The Center on Monday extended the ongoing winter session of the Rajya Sabha till Wednesday, January 9, so that the Constitutional amendment bill that will allow 10 per cent reservation for ‘economically backward’ upper castes can be taken up by the House.
According to government sources, the Union Cabinet on Monday approved 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker among the upper castes in government jobs and education.
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The implementation of this bill would require amendments in Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution, where fresh sections will be added.
The winter session of Parliament that begun on December 11, was supposed to end on January 8.
“100 days are left for elections and Mr Modi now remembers the economically weaker sections of the society,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on the matter.
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“My question is, in the name of elections can a govt cheat people or ditch unemployed youth? They’ve to clarify whether it will be implemented or not and if it is constitutionally&legally valid or not” West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said.
Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu Prasad’s said, “If they are giving 10% reservation for 15% population, they will have to give 90% quotas for the rest… why don’t they reveal the caste census”.
Meanwhile, both the BJP and Congress have issued a whip to party MPs to be present in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. To pass the bill, the majority of two-thirds of the house is required.