SP member tears quota bill amid scuffle in Lok Sabha

The action of SP member Yashvir Singh, a dalit, triggered commotion and scuffle between members of his party and the Congress, who threw a protective ring around Gandhi in the Well of the House.

The incident triggered a war of words outside between the Congress and its outside ally Samajwadi Party, which is strongly opposed to reservation in promotion for SCs and STs in government jobs.

However, unfazed by the protest from an isolated SP, the third of its kind in Parliament, government pledged to move the bill for consideration in the House tomorrow.

A verbal spat followed between the Congress and SP member and a shocked Speaker Meira Kumar abruptly adjourned the House for the day.

Hell broke loose as Narayanasamy rose to move the Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill for consideration of the House. The Bill had been passed by the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Singh came from aisle on the extreme left side of the House and took away the Bill from Narayanasamy.

As a dazed minister watched in shock, Gandhi got up from her front row seat to grab the bill from Singh.

"I was taken aback," Narayanasamy said later.

Singh represents Uttar Pradesh's Nagina constituency, which is reserved for the Scheduled Castes. Incidentally, the Bill seeks to provide reservation to SCs/STs in promotion in government jobs.

Gandhi's swift move caught Singh unawares and he leaned back and flung the Bill to his colleague Neeraj Shekhar, who was in the Well. Shekhar tore the copy of the Bill and threw it in the Well. MORE