Rajya Sabha LIVE: Quota Bill Means Govt is Admitting it Failed to Create Jobs in 4 Years, Says Derek O'Brien

Quota Bill Expression of BJP's Desperation | CPI(M) MP Elamaram Kareem charged the BJP of robbing the country of one crore jobs during demonetisation. "The timing of this Bill expresses the desperation of BJP to muster support electorally," he said. The government of Kerala, from 1957, made land reforms, developed public education and distribution system, empowered women and strengthened people's participation in administration, he added.

JD(U) Welcomes Centre's Reservation Bill | While the JD (U) has extended its support to the Quota bill, the TDP argues that the bill should have been referred  to a Select Committee. TDP MP YS Chowdary said, "Compromising on parliamentary procedures is very sad. Chandrababu Naidu said that this kind of Bill should have been referred to a select committee. On the contrary, Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, a JD(U) MP, said, "JD(U) supports this Bill and welcomes it. This Bill has strength. Even if it has been delayed, at least this Bill is now here."

Reservation a Theory Since the Independence | BJD MP Prasanna Acharya argued in the Rajya Sabha that the Centre's reservation bill may not stand the scrutiny of the law. Terming the reservation as a theory made before the Independence, he said, "I thank the government for bringing this bill into the Parliament, even though it was brought a bit late. I remember Ambedkar now. When the Constituent Assembly was made, there was reservation there too. Is this House competent to bring such a Bill? It may not stand the scrutiny of the law."

TMC Dubs Quota Bill as 'Acknowledgement of Guilt' | Derek O'Brien of the Trinamool Congress attacked the Centre's pre-poll reservation bill on Wednesday labelling it as an 'acknowledgement of guilt'.  "This bill is an acknowledgement of guilt, that we haven't created any jobs in the last four and a half years. It redefines India's poverty line of Rs 32 a day. If we look at the number of Rs 8 lakhs a year, then the new poverty line stands at Rs 2,100 a day," he said.

The PM's Strong Defence | Defending the introduction of the 10 per cent quota for the economically backward upper castes in jobs and education, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the bill is a strong answer to those "spreading lies". Hoping that the Rajya Sabha will pass the Bill on Wednesday, PM Modi said the rights of deprived sections, including Dalits and the tribals, won't be affected because of this bill. He termed the  passage of the bill in the Lok Sabha as a historic step aimed at the welfare of the deprived sections.

The veteran lawyer said the bill to grant 10% quota to economically weaker among general category will be struck down by the courts because it will take the reservation ceiling to 60% and deserving candidates in the open category will be left out.

A Navaneethakrishnan from AIADMK is speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Quota Bill. Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav said that he supports the Bill but says its motive is Lok Sabha elections. The debate continues in the Upper house and it is yet to be seen if it can be passed on the last day of the winter session.

Asking Opposition to join hands for "development of all", BJP MP Prabhat Jha dared Rahul Gandhi to discuss Quota Bill in Rajya Sabha. "Rahul Gandhi just talks about Rafale every time, why is he not present now to talk on a crucial bill that relates to crores of lives," he said.

"It's not about PM Modi but about crores of India's youth, says BJP MP Prabhat Jha, requesting Opposition to pass the Quota Bill in Rajya Sabha. "It's only Narendra Modi who has followed slogan of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' in its true spirit, like a devout would chant verses of Gita. Let's join our hands for development of all," Jha adds.

Congress says that the Quota Bill has been tabled due to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. "It's about crores of youth. We request the opposition to come together on the issue," says BJP MP Prabhat Jha.

"Situation in North East is under control. Several steps have been taken in last four years to control illegal migration. The government is committed to preserve distinct identity of Assam," says Rajnath Singh.

#NewsAlert -- Home Minister @RajnathSingh speaks on Citizenship Bill in Rajya Sabha. | #CitizenshipDebate #BattleOf2019 pic.twitter.com/2qB60tJhYM

— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 9, 2019

'Citizenship Bill for All States' | Condemning violence in Assam and other North East states over Citizenship Bill, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that the bill is not only for Assam, but will be extended for migrants in other states as well. "There have been efforts to create confusion over the issue," he said.

"We have taken some big steps for the enforcement of Assam Accord," says Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha.

#JustIn | We have taken some big steps for the enforcement of Assam Accord: Home Minister @RajnathSingh in Rajya Sabha. | #CitizenshipDebate #BattleOf2019 pic.twitter.com/uO7ThdNwWI

— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 9, 2019

Rajnath Singh Speaks on Citizenship Bill | Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks in Rajya Sabha on Citizenship Bill. He condemns the violence that took place in Assam and Meghalaya on Tuesday.

As the debate over Quota Bill continues in Rajya Sabha, Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat, while reacting to the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, said, "Another Ambedkar is born in the 21st century. And he has taken this decision for the economically weak people. I want to congratulate PM, son of poor has today thought about all the poor people."

Rajya Sabha Adjourned | The voting for the Quota Bill is taking place in Rajya Sabha. Of 163 members, 89 of NDA, 69 of UPA and 80 Others are supporting the bill, while 13 of AIADMK are unclear and one member of  IUML have voted against. The House has been adjourned till 2 pm amid uproar.

Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot says, "The Bill has not been passed in a hurry. The intentions behind this Bill are noble. The country's poor need this quota."

Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot on 10% quota bill in Rajya Sabha: This bill will uplift the poor of the nation. This decision has been taken with thorough consideration; Opposition comes into the well of the House as the minister speaks on the Bill. pic.twitter.com/THZVUmiicZ

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2019

CPI Wants Quota Bill to Go to Select Committee | CPI leader D Raja says that the quota bill needs to go to select committee first before it comes up for discussion in Rajya Sabha.

#NewsAlert -- We know that the Bill is being introduced in a hurry because of the upcoming elections. We understand what is happening we are not kids: Anand Sharma, Cong in RS #ModiQuotaSop pic.twitter.com/9bWFrLO9W6

— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 9, 2019

"We know that the bill is being introduced in a hurry because of the upcoming elections. We understand what is happening, we are not kids," says Congress MP Anand Sharma as quota bill is tabled in Rajya Sabha.

Quota Bill Tabled | Government introduces in Rajya Sabha a Constitutional Amendment Bill to give 10% quota to upper caste poor in jobs and education. 

Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Wednesday adjourned till 1200 hrs following ruckus by opposition parties led by Congress over the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Slogan shouting Congress members trooped into the well of the House protesting against the bill that gives citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. They were supported by TMC members who moved into ailes. Deputy Chairman Harivansh called members to raise matters of public importance during the zero hour but nothing could be heard in the din. Anand Sharma (Cong) said the entire North-East is on fire as the legislation would effect the security and safety of the region.

The reservation will be above the existing 50% and the government will amend Articles 15 and 16, which deal with discrimination and equal opportunity, of the Constitution to implement it.

Brahmins, Rajputs, Jats to Benefit from Quota Bill | The proposed quota would be over and above the 50 per cent reservation already available to SC/ST and Other Backward Castes. The major castes to benefit from the proposed law are Brahmins, Rajputs (Thakurs), Jats, Marathas, Bhumihars, several trading castes, Kapus and Kammas among other upper castes. The BJP believes that if opposition parties, whose support is a must for its passage in the Rajya Sabha where the government lacks numbers, vote against it, then they will risk losing support of an influential section of society.

Being a constitutional amendment bill, the quota bill for upper caste poor will require presence of at least half of the members even in the upper house and support from two-third of them. Replying to the debate on Tuesday, Social Justice Minister Thaavarchand Gehlot sought to allay doubts raised by opposition members about the legislation's fate if it is challenged in the Supreme Court, asserting he can say with confidence that the apex court will accept it. The Modi government's policy and intention is good and that is why it has enabled the reservation for the poor in the general category, he said, seeking support of all parties for the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill 2019. "Your doubts are unfounded. Put them to rest," he told the opposition members, many of whom dubbed the bill as "jumla" (rhetoric) and "gimmick", questioned its legal standing and accused the government of bringing it in haste with an eye on the Lok Sabha polls, which are expected in a few months. Gehlot said the bill was in line with Prime Minister Modi's assertion at the time of assuming power in 2014 that his government would be devoted to the cause of the poor and work for "sabka saath sabka vikas" (with all, development for all). "This is an historic decision and in the interest of the country," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the passage of a bill, which provides 10 per cent quota for the general category poor in jobs and education, as a "landmark moment in our nation's history". In his tweets soon after the Lok Sabha passed the bill, he said it sets into motion the process to achieve an effective measure that ensures justice for all sections of society. "It is our endeavour to ensure that every poor person, irrespective of caste or creed, gets to lead a life of dignity, and gets access to all possible opportunities," Modi added. "The passage of The Constitution (One Hundred And Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Lok Sabha is a landmark moment in our nation's history," he said.  The prime minister expressed his thanks to MPs from all the parties who supported the measure. "We are resolutely committed to the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'," he said.

"The Home Minister should come to the house and make a statement on the Citizen Amendment Bill. His is a serious situation. North East is burning. Government should assure NE that India stands united," Congress MP Anand Sharma says in Rajya Sabha.

"The country expects the House to function. As per normal working days, we should have been working, on most of them the House stood adjourned. There is one extra day to consider legislation," Jaitley says.

Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha: The country expects the House to function. As per normal working days, we should have been working, on most of them the House stood adjourned. There is one extra day to consider legislations. pic.twitter.com/ATQWHxDs5T

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2019

Union Minister Arun Jaitley says that the Chair has taken a decision to discuss an important bill. Opposition members continue with their protests in Rajya Sabha with MPs entering well of the House. "Save Assam, Save NE, Save India," Lawmakers raise slogans over Citizenship Bill.

Rajya Sabha Proceedings Begin | Opposition cries foul over extension of Winter session as Rajya Sabha proceedings begin. TMC says that extension of House is illegal. BJP's Vijay Goel replies that a lot of time has been wasted in protests. "We should be concerned about quota bill," he adds.

Subhimal Bhattacharjee from Jookto organisation on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill said that the bill is good but it's quite late. "Definitely, Bill is good in principle and intent. The bill is not directly giving you citizenship, it is an enabler. What government has done is the right step, possibly, it could have been done much earlier," he said.

Subhimal Bhattacharjee from Jookto organisation on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill: Definitely, Bill is good in principle&intent. The bill is not directly giving you citizenship, it is an enabler. What govt has done is the right step, possibly, it could have been done much earlier.” pic.twitter.com/9CPZqRsCAL

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2019