The main Opposition BJP has decided to reject BSP chief Mayawati’s request of allowing Parliament to function on Wednesday to pass the reservation in promotion bill. The party decided that it will continue to force adjournment of both the Houses on coal block allocation issue. Though the BJP is in principle supporting the bill but it feels that the government is bringing this legislation to divert attention from the coal block issue.
A meeting of BJP parliamentary party floor leaders was held under the chairmanship of L.K. Advani to discuss the party strategy in the Rajya Sabha when the reservation in promotion of SC/ST employees bill is likely to be introduced and discussed for passage on Wednesday. Sources disclosed the party will not allow the House to function and press for its three demands — Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation, cancellation of 142 coal block allocations and a fair and impartial probe.
Sources said the BJP decided not to accede to Ms Mayawati’s request that the House to be allowed to function for a short duration to pass the Constitutional amendment needed for the proposed legislation.
Ms Mayawati met the Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun jaitley on Tuesday afternoon and requested them to help in passage of the bill which was cleared by Union Cabinet in the morning.
Moreover, SP is also likely to disrupt the introduction of the bill in the Upper House as it wants concessions for OBC also to be included in the bill.