SP threat on quota bill 'mere political posturing': BJP

"SP and BSP are hand-in-glove with Congress. On several occasions, the two have jumped in to save the UPA government... The threat by Mulayam Singh Yadav is a mere political posturing," BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters here.

His comment came after Yadav had said yesterday, "If voting is done on the bill in the House, I will reconsider my party's support to the government.... We will review party's outside support to the government."

The Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill, 2012 seeks to provide reservation in promotion for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes government employees. The measure in currently being debated in Rajya Sabha and is likely to be taken up for voting tomorrow.

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said earlier today that social justice steps must be undertaken only in a manner in which they are constitutionally compatible.

"No effort should be made to dilute the efficiency of government provisions in Article 335 of the Constitution," he said.

While BSP wants the government to get the bill passed, SP has maintained that it was unconstitutional and would deprive 80 per cent of employees of promotional avenues.