New Delhi: Lok Sabha passed two important bills 10% reservation for economically weak General Category and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019.
The central government’s bill to provide 10 per cent reservation in jobs and education to economically backward sections of the general category was passed by Lok Sabha after hours of discussion. 323 MPs voted in favour of the bill and three voted against it.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh also moved the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 amid shut down in North east states in Lok Sabha Tuesday and was subsequently passed after a discussion. The bill proposes to make Non Muslim immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who have entered India before December 31, 2014 eligible for Indian citizenship. Amid a discussion over the bill, Congress and TMC MPs walked out of the Lok Sabha.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi opposed the reservation bill. “This is a fraud on Constitution and insult on Babasaheb Ambedkar. Our Constitution doesn’t recognise economically-backward.” He asked if upper caste Hindus ever faced untouchability. “There is no empirical data to show the upper caste (Savarna) people are backward,” he added.
RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha (RLSP) sought an all India Judicial Services and reservation in judiciary too. He suggested the Winter Session should be extended for two more days so that amendments can be moved in the Bill.
NCP MP Supriya Sule said she welcomed the Bill but hoped that the quota bill is not a political gimmick to bring PM Modi back to power.
