After two of its MPs were asked to leave the House, the SP staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha, facilitating a debate on a Bill that would reserve promotions in government jobs for SCs and STs.
As soon as Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy to move the Constitution (One Hundred and Seventeenth Amendment) Bill, 2012, SP members trooped near the Chairman’s podium and raised slogans against it.
Kurien even cautioned that he would name some of the members. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath asked the Chair to take action against the agitating members under Rule 255 of the House.
After two brief adjournments, Kurien asked Arvind Kumar Singh and Chaudhary Munabbar Saleem to leave the House and threatened to call marshals if they didn’t. After a brief argument, SP members staged a walkout.
Narayanasamy then moved the Bill. Initiating the debate, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitely asked the government to make changes so that the Bill would not lead to “reverse discrimination”.
He also wanted the government to reconsider the Article 335 of the Bill which deals with efficiency in administration, as the Bill in its current form risks being struck down by courts. He said if the government agrees to reconsider these provisions, “the legislation will be judicious”.
BSP leader Mayawati said people from the SC and ST communities needed reservation in promotions in government services.
She, however, said, “The amendment is applicable only for SC/STs, thus OBCs cannot be included under it.”
Mayawati also said that she is in favour of giving reservation to economically weak people from the upper castes.