Lok Sabha passes quota Bill for economically weak in general category

Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi were present in the House when the Bill was passed. The government will table the Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday

11:03 PM

10:59 PM

"We are resolutely committed to the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.' It is our endeavour to ensure that every poor person, irrespective of caste or creed gets to lead a life of dignity, and gets access to all possible opportunities," said PM Modi.

10:59 PM

"I thank MPs from all the parties who supported The Constitution (One Hundred And Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Lok Sabha. I also appreciate those MP colleagues who enriched today's debate with their views," said PM Modi.

10:58 PM

Landmark moment in nation's history: PM Modi on passage of quota Bill

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the passage of the Constitution (One Hundred And Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019, in the Lok Sabha was a landmark moment in the nation's history. "It sets into motion the process to achieve an effective measure that ensures justice for all sections of society," he tweeted.

10:52 PM

Lok Sabha has been adjourned sine die

10:50 PM

10:33 PM

10:18 PM

As many as 323 members voted in support of the quota Bill and only three voted against it, underlining the cross-party support the politically crucial Bill elicited. 

10:15 PM

10:02 PM

Quota Bill passed

 

The Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019, or the quota Bill, has been passed in the Lok Sabha. 

9:54 PM

Quota Bill to be taken up for voting in the Lok Sabha 

9:50 PM

Quota Bill unconstitutional, political weapon, say legal experts

 

Legal experts on Tuesday termed the Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha to extend reservation to economically backward sections in the general category as "unconstitutional" and a "political weapon", which is likely to be "challenged in the court of law". (Read more here) 

9:46 PM

Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) said the way the quota Bill has been brought in is nothing less than deceit for the upper caste.

9:46 PM

While supporting the quota Bill, Dharmendra Yadav (SP) said that upper caste also knows the intent of the government as it is just an election gimmick.

9:46 PM

Dushyant Chautala (INLD) also said the legislation would be struck down by the Supreme Court.

9:46 PM

Questioning the urgency of the quota Bill, Supriya Sule (NCP) said if the government had been sincere, this Bill would not have come on the last day of the last session. She also said that one of the Cabinet Minister's expressed apprehension that the law may not get approval from the Supreme Court. She was referring to a remark made by Ramvilas Paswan who said the government should ensure that it should not get into a legal tangle.

9:44 PM

Jitendra Choudhury (CPM) said that the government wants to provide 10 per cent reservation to general category but where are the jobs. To make this Bill more comprehensive, the Bill should be referred to the Joint Parliament Committee or Standing Committee, he added.

9:44 PM

Stating that the quota Bill was moved as a "special agenda", B Mahtab (BJD) said that the House was bereft of moving any amendment to the Bill.

9:44 PM

Anandra Adsul (Shiv Sena) also rendered his support to the quota Bill and said it was better late than never.

9:43 PM

Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC) said that the quota Bill was not about jobs but about misleading the youth. The Bill, he said, was about promising and not delivering and was a fake dream that will never become a reality. TMC, he said, is unhesitantly extending support to the Bill.

9:42 PM

Participating in the debate, M Thambidurai (AIADMK) said reservation is not on economic backwardness but on social backwardness. He pointed out that government has many schemes for upliftment of economically poor sections of the society and did that mean that these schemes have failed. 

9:42 PM

Citing P V Narasimha Rao's government effort to bring in 10 per cent reservation on the basis of economic criteria, K V Thomas (Cong) said it was struck down by the Supreme Court. This legislation has been made in haste and has so many lacunas, he said, adding, it should be sent to Joint Parliamentary Committee for examination.

 

"It was only yesterdsay that Union Cabinet approved the Constitution Amendment for 10 per cent quota for poor under general category on economic basis and was introduced in Parliament today. It raises question on the sincerity of the government," he said.

 

It seems to be political 'jumla' to win election as Newspapers have written today, he added. 

9:41 PM

Reservation Bill may not stand judicial scrutiny as it has lacunas: Opposition

 

Describing the reservation Bill as political gimmick, Opposition parties led by the Congress expressed apprehension that the law empowering 10 per cent reservation to the upper caste may not stand judicial scrutiny. 

9:32 PM

Hitting out at PM Modi for announcing reservation for economically weaker sections belonging to upper castes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Abdullah said, "Politics is a strange thing and politicians are masters in using the people. They think people are naive and gullible."

9:32 PM

Abdullah questioned the timing of the Bill, saying: "I have problem with the timing. As far as the Bill is concerned, it will be decided by Parliament or court. My question is about the timing. How come this reservation become suddenly necessary."

9:31 PM

"You (BJP) have majority in Parliament for past four and half years, but you did not find it (Bill) necessary. But on the last day of the last session of the current Lok Sabha, you (BJP government) bring this Bill and create a new category. It is straight way politics being done and people are being fooled," Abdullah told reporters.

9:31 PM

The National Conference (NC) vice-president also trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the government introducing the reservation Bill in Parliament on the last day of the Winter Session, saying "had PM been sincere, he would not have waited for nearly four and a half years".

9:31 PM

Omar hits out at PM on quota Bill, says it's 'politically motivated'

 

Former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday termed as "politically motivated" a Bill introduced by the Centre in Lok Sabha that seeks to amend Constitution to provide 10 per cent reservation quota to economically weaker sections from the general category. (Read more here)   

9:26 PM

8:49 PM

Cong questions timing of Modi govt's move on quota for poor

 

Raising questions about the timing on the Centre's move to provide 10 per cent quota in government jobs and education for "economically weaker" sections, Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal on Tuesday termed it as a "lollipop" to the people of the country. (Read more here)