Rajya Sabha LIVE: Centre's 10% Quota for Poor From General Category Cleared

'Victory for Social Justice' | After the historic passage of The Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 in both the Houses of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dubbed it as a victory for social justice. "It ensures a wider canvas for our Yuva Shakti to showcase their prowess and contribute towards India’s transformation," PM Modi said.

Parliament passes bill granting 10% quota to economically-weaker sections of general category

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Historic Upper Caste Reservation Bill Passed | The upper house, Rajya Sabha, passed the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 with 165 'ayes'. The bill will provide reservation for economically weaker section of the society.

AAP attacks the BJP and RSS on the 10% reservation of economically backward upper castes:

Sanjay Singh, AAP in Rajya Sabha on #QuotaBill: This is a historic moment, if this bill is passed today, then in the coming days, RSS, which couldn’t make a single Dalit their chief in 90 years, will end the reservation for Dalits and backwards. pic.twitter.com/kXDntgoKyW

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Sen also said the Modi government sustained the 'high economic growth' achieved during the UPA regime, but that did not translate into jobs, poverty elimination and better healthcare and education for all.

BJP Demands Implementation of 10% Quota for General Category Poor in J&K | The BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit Wednesday urged the president to extend to the state 10 per cent reservation for the general category poor. Welcoming the passage of the bill in the Lok Sabha, state BJP president Ravinder Raina told reporters that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had fulfilled his promise of empowering all neglected sections of society. "We urge President of India to extend the benefit of 10 per cent reservation to the general category poor living in Jammu and Kashmir as the act cannot be directly implemented here in view of Article 370," he said.

'States to Decide Reservation Bill Beneficiaries' | Taking on the argument put forth by the opposition on how the beneficiaries of the new reservation bill shall be decided, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that the legislation gives powers to the states to decide on the economic criteria for defining the beneficiaries of the tabled Quota Bill. Intervening in the debate on The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, he said the 10  per cent reservation to poor in the general category will be applicable to jobs in both central and state governments.

Opposition's Charge of Unconstitutionality of Reservation Bill Intensifies | The Congress and other opposition parties on Wednesday strongly protested in the Rajya Sabha over the introduction of the bill to provide 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to economically poor among the general category and supported demands for sending it to a select committee. Congress leader Kapil Sibal said, "The Mandal Commission provision of 10% reservation for the economically weaker category was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. If a nine-judge bench held it unconstitutional, how can you amend the constitution?"

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad insinuated that the government has more such big announcements in the offing:

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in Rajya Sabha on #QuotaBill: Cricket mein chhakka slog over mein lagta hai, jab match close hota hai tab lagta hai. Agar aapko issi pe pareshani hai, to yeh pehla chakka nahi hai, aur chakke aane wale hain. pic.twitter.com/f6yNjppFDB

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2019

Kapil Sibal said, "Is there any data to show how many OBC, SC, ST is there in the states. So, what is the data to show how many people have homes under 1000 sq ft or have an annual income below 8 lakhs per annum?"

'Reservation Bill Can't be Backed by Data' | Congress leader Kabil Sibal has argued in the Rajya Sabha that the Centre's Quota bill seeking 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to economically weaker sections in the general category is 'devoid of empirical data'. Further, Sibal charged the Modi government of not 'applying their minds' while framing the bill.

Quota Bill 'Anti-Dalit' 'Anti-Poor' | RJD's Manoj Jha attacked the BJP, claiming that the reservation is not a poverty alleviation program like MNREG, but an "anti-Dalit and anti-poor" scheme. He further added that the Bill is not constitutionally tenable.

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

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'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

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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