Congress calls bill govt’s ‘jumla’ and anti-poor, questions haste

NEW DELHI: Congress tried to cast doubts on government’s intent to provide reservation for poor among general castes, questioning why it had brought the bill on the last day of the last substantive Parliament session, arguing that haste on a measure previously struck down by courts bodes ill about its future.

Fielded as the lead speaker, former Union minister and Kerala MP K V Thomas mocked the bill calling it a “jumla”, political speak for empty promise.

Crucially, Congress sought to paint the BJP’s quota measure as “anti-poor”, saying that eligibility criteria of income of Rs 8 lakh per annum — Rs 65,000 per month — meant that the rich among the forwards would corner the benefits. “Affluent people are being brought in its ambit,” Thomas claimed.

He said the quota measure violates the 50% ceiling on quota quantum which risks being struck down by the court. Referring to P V Narasimha Rao government’s 10% quota for economically weaker sections which was quashed by the Supreme Court, he said the courts have ruled that economic criteria cannot be the basis for reservations. “There is a legal issue in this,” he said.

He demanded the bill be sent to the JPC for thorough discussions and can be brought to Parliament for passage after a month.

In Lok Sabha, CPM moved an amendment but claimed their request was turned down as it was “too late.” An amendment to the bill was moved by CPM’s Kerala MP P Karunakaran seeking inclusion of SCs, STs, OBCs, and minorities in extending benefits to private institutions. Karunakaran demanded that benefits to EWSs must also be made available to people in the existing reserved categories for private jobs.

Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda also said the intention of the government was doubtful since it was bringing the bill in the final months of its tenure.