Friday, March 5, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Govt Open to OBC Quota on Lines of SC/ST Reservation

 

http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?675823

Govt Open to OBC Quota on Lines of SC/ST Reservation
New Delhi | Mar 04, 2010

In a bid to bring on board parties which are opposing the Women's
Reservation Bill in its present form, Government today said it was
open to evolving a national consensus for granting reservation to the
OBCs on the lines provided to SCs and STs.

"Reservation is provided to SCs and STs in Lok Sabha with
constitutional amendment but no such reservation exists for OBCs....
Unless that happens we cannot do it in case of Women's Reservation...
That's a different arena," Law Minister M Veerappa Moily told
reporters outside Parliament.

He added that the parties, which are opposing the Bill and are
demanding quota within quota, can extend their support to the Bill and
then think of the "larger canvas for providing reservation to OBCs in
both Houses (Lok Sabha and State Assemblies)".

He said that supporting the Bill "does not prevent them from taking up
the larger issue of reservation for OBCs in general.

"If they are very keen on the issue of OBC representation, they should
first try to build a national consensus for reserving seats for OBC
men and women in general for both Houses.... That stands logic but
their present demand does not stand any logic," Moily, who himself
belongs to the Backward Classes said.

Moily's statement is significant in view of the fact that the Women's
Reservation Bill has been hanging fire for over a decade with major
parties from Hindi belt opposing it on the ground that it should have
quota within quota for OBCs.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav have warned of
"uproar" in Parliament if attempts were made to pass the Bill without
reaching a consensus.

Congress sources, meanwhile, indicated that backroom moves are afoot
to evolve a consensus on the issue.

Asked whether Congress is hopeful of passage of the Bill this time,
Moily said, "The national will is for Women's Reservation Bill. I
think every party will respond to it".

On whether he finds more parties favouring the passage of the Bill
this time, he said, "There is a greater understanding."

Party spokesperson Manish Tewari said, "Barring a few parties, all
others have supported the Bill in the Standing Committee, which
discussed it and we are hopeful that they would support it even on the
floor of the House".

A delegation of women Congress MPs led by Chandresh Kumari,
Chairperson of the Committee on Empowerment of Women, met Congress
President Sonia Gandhi and thanked her for the Cabinet clearance to
the Women Reservation Bill. She also requested her to facilitate its
taking up in Rajya Sabha on March 8.

Earlier Gandhi, who addressed Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP)
meeting today, said she personally attaches the "highest importance"
to the Bill.

She added that March 8 was the centenary of International Women's Day
and "what a gift to the women of India if on this important day, this
historic legislation is introduced and passed".
Filed At: Mar 04, 2010 19:18 IST , Edited At: Mar 04, 2010 19:18 IST

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