Quota bill taken up for consideration in LS

Soon after Question Hour, Speaker Meira Kumar asked Minister for Personnel V Narayanasamy to move for further consideration the Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill, 2012 which envisages reservation in promotion for SCs and STs in government jobs.

But, as Narayanasamy rose to speak, SP members walked into the Well and shouted slogans against the Bill. "No reservation in promotion", they chanted, while SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and senior leader Reoti Raman Singh rose in their seats.

Incidentally, Narayanasamy did not read from a copy of the bill today and spoke extempore. The bill was snatched from him by SP member Yashvir Singh when he was introducing it yesterday.

The bill has already been passed by Rajya Sabha.

While SP members were protesting in the Well, BJP members were on their feet and told the Chair that a constitutional amendment cannot be moved when the House is not in order.

"You are setting a wrong precedent...This is a breach of Parliamentary norms," BJP members shouted.

When the din continued, BJP Parliamentary Party Chief L K Advani stood up to make a statement. But, SP members continued to protest.

The Speaker asked P L Punia (Cong) to speak on the bill.

He praised the bill and said it will give Dalits their due.

Earlier, the Speaker said the SP member had expressed regret over the unfortunate bill snatching incident which had led to abrupt adjournment of the House yesterday.