Bill on backward classes commission to be reintroduced

The bill to grant constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) will be reintroduced in the Lok Sabha during the winter session, sources said on Thursday.

The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in the Monsoon Session but the Rajya Sabha made certain amendments to it. With the two Houses passing different versions of the bill, it will now have to be sent back to the Lok Sabha.

The government had faced major embarrassment in the Upper House when the Congress and some other opposition parties succeeded in forcing a few amendments to the bill.

Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah had pulled up party MPs who were not present in the Rajya Sabha during the voting on the bill and had said that the Congress had "intentionally insisted on illegitimate amendments".

Shah had also accused the Congress of hatching "a conspiracy" against the backward classes.

Sources said that the bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in the last session in response to a persistent and long-felt demand from all categories of Other Backward Classes to grant Constitutional status to the NCBC at par with the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The Winter Session of the Parliament is expected to be convened next month.

--IANS

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