NEW DELHI: NEW DELHI: The Opposition stalled proceedings of Rajya Sabha over vacancies in minority, scheduled cast and other backward class commissions and demanded the government to provide details of reasons for delay in appointments.
The house did not commence any business during the day and the finance bill could not be taken up for discussion by the upper house.
SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav raised the matter during Zero Hour and soon members from other parties -- BSP, Congress and Left started to speak on the issue.
Yadav demanded that the government is doing way with these commissions and should also provide data for how many secretaries in central ministries are of minority, SC, ST and Backward classes.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien efforts to pacify the member to let the house function went futile and there were repeated adjournments.
BSP chief Mayawati said that country’s 80-85 percent population is from minority and backward classes and they have faced discrimination for years.
“These commissions were constituted for the protection of their rights and they have stopped functioning under the BJP rule as no appointments are made,” said Mayawati.
Other members including Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav and CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury also raised the matter and wanted the Chair to allow the house to discuss the issue during Zero Hour.
It was denied by the chair and this lead to members of these parties trooping into the well of the house shouting slogans and demanding reply from the government.
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu targeted the opposition and said that during UPA’s regime appointments were not made for months together.
“The Government is going to constitute all these Commissions and the process for filling up the vacancies is on and will be completed at the earliest. There is a wrong impression that they are not going to be filled up or they are going to be wound up,” said Naidu.