The government on Thursday suggested convening an all-party meeting to discuss bringing constitutional amendment to provide promotion for Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes in jobs amidst demands raised by a cross-section of political parties in Rajya Sabha.
Minister of state for personnel V. Narayanasamy said in the Upper House that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is seized of the matter and is willing to call an all-party meeting to build a consensus for bringing a legislation.
The Bahujan Samaj Party, which had raised the issue of reservation for Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes in promotion during service, in the wake of the Supreme Court quashing the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision in this regard recently, said it was not satisfied with the government’s response and staged a walkout, led by its leader Mayawati. She also accused the UPA government of adopting delaying tactics.
Opposition BJP, CPI and CPI(M) also accused the government of delaying such a crucial issue. Samajwadi Party and even some Congress members demanded a timeframe for bringing amendment to ensure reservation for SCs and STs in promotions.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha soon after the House met for the day, Ms Mayawati demanded that reservation for SCs and STs should be placed in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution so that there is no problem in implementation of quota provisions for the two communities.
Ms Mayawati, who spoke for the first time since taking oath as Rajya Sabha member last week, said the Central government had amended the Constitution in the wake of court decision in Indra Sawhney case in 1992 so that SCs and STs continue to get reservations in jobs and promotions.
Intervening in the short duration discussion on the issue later, law and justice minister Salman Khurshid said the government could go beyond 22.5 per cent reservation for SC/ST and OBCs and reiterated its commitment to implementing the policy.
While praising the judiciary for judgments, he also called for restrained comments by some members of the legislature asking them not to view judicial pronouncements with 'cynicism'.