Yashvir Singh flings paper to party colleague even as Sonia rushes to get it back
High drama unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday when a Samajwadi Party member snatched a copy of the quota in promotion Bill from Minister of State V. Narayanasamy when he rose to move it. Amid jostling and pushing, Congress president Sonia Gandhi tried to get the copy back from Yashvir Singh, but he flung it to his party members and then it was torn to pieces.
Yashvir Singh, representing Nagina in Uttar Pradesh, shocked the House, snatching the Bill from Mr. Narayanasamy. Then he flung it towards his party colleague Neeraj Kumar, even as Ms. Gandhi, seated in the first row, rushed towards Mr. Singh.
This caused a huge commotion. As Congress members K. Bapiraju and Vilas Muttemwar walked towards Ms. Gandhi, a scuffle-like situation prevailed, with the SP members already in the well protesting against the Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill. Congress members surrounded Ms. Gandhi.
A stunned Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the House for the day. Tempers ran high even after the adjournment, with members of the two parties blaming each other for the situation.
The SP has been isolated in its opposition to the Bill, which seeks to create a quota for the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes in promotion in government jobs.
Terming the incident “very deplorable and extremely unfortunate,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told reporters later: “We will urge the Speaker to condemn it and take action against the member.” “The Bill will be taken up tomorrow [on Thursday]…” Such an act “frustrates parliamentary democracy.”
Mr. Nath said that since Ms. Gandhi was closest to the spot where the incident occurred, she asked the SP member to return the Bill. “In a democracy, if you are against something, you vote against it. But you can’t do this. I condemn it. If they show such an attitude, there is no need for democracy or Parliament or the media.”
The Lok Sabha was repeatedly adjourned before the Bill was taken up, as the SP members stormed into the well. As the House reassembled at noon after an adjournment and soon after question hour began, they trooped into the well, raising slogans.
Keywords: quota bill, Samajwadi Party, SC/ST bill, promotion quota, Lok Sabha uproar







How has 60 years of reservation policy helped the development of sc/st, has it really? If we take number of govt employees at 6 crore i.e. 5% of the population, and proportional reservation for sc/st, only 5% of the sc/st population gets employment. If each these 5% bring development to at least 4 other persons, 25% get developed. What about the rest 75%. And is reservation going to change the attitude of higher castes towards them? As I can see, it seems reservation won't make a change. Only a movement for dignity and self respect and self development will change the fate of sc/st people.
I think the system of current reservation should be there. I listen to the arguments of both Pro and anti reservation side. The pro-reservation group argues that the indian society had been predominantly a caste based society for many centuries (or millenium). In such system, each caste were allowed to do only certain jobs and nothing else. And only certain caste members were allowed to get education. This was 100% reservation in disguise. In order to counter the disadvantages of such old (100%) reservation system, i think the modern reservation system should be there untill the society reaches its logical balance. And anyone clearly analysing the social changes would recognise that the modern reservation system has indeed contributed to it positively.
I, for one, is for merit and intelligence for any job. But opposition to reservation in the govt. service seems to be a bit hypocrisy. The General category people are not ready to work under the SC/ST officers but they do not mind when the SC/ST people clean their latrines in their homes and offices.Why? Most of the scavenging work in homes and offices is done by lower caste people. Why do we not stop them from doing this dirty job.They suffered for centuries. They need much more than the reservation, which is their right on the basis of their population.
First thing first. There should be no caste based reservation. The sole criterion for reservation of any kind should be the economic condition. The caste based reservation will not reap the benefit at all. Instead the divide will increase as the needy will remain in need and the prosperous will prosper ever more.
The quota bill should not be introduced as the main purpose is to help
the SC/ST in their emancipation. This is already being fulfilled by
providing them reservation in gov jobs ( Which is flawed in the sense
that only the educated and well-off are mostly able to reap the
benefits by providing the availing the same for their children). After
getting these jobs they should be entitled to make effort and rise
above based on their own learning and hard work.Please do not try to
cripple the whole system.
FIGHT INJUSTICE WITH MORE INJUSTICE! SIMPLY GREAT!
No body denies the injustice meted out to sc, st brethren and is still
going on even in promotions. Instead of ensuring an objective promotion
system in the civil service where there is no scope for discrimination,
our government has taken the road which is easy but will not satisfy
anybody. HOW CAN ANYBODY STAND SOMEBODY JUNIOR(no body cares whether he
belongs to sc,st, obc, gc) TO HIM GETTING PROMOTION EARLIER THAN HIM?
I dont think any MLA OR MP would agree giving his seat to sumbody
junior in his constituency. It defies all laws of nature. If sc,st
brethren are entering civil service at a later stages due to various
disabilities may be its better to give them more service years than
pumpin them up early. And finally not implementing creamy layer in the
name of a technical snag is a monumental mistake in judicial history of
india
Dear Madam Somipem Keishing,I read your interesting comment on this
article. Shall be grateful to have the data in support of your
contention of the 'privilaged SC/ST'. I am available on Social Media on
Facebook and Twitter with the same name BabubhaiVaghela from Ahmedabad.
The prevailing condition of quota reservation for job recruitment is not
even adequately implemented. The new bill will only add to the
confusion. the government should first of all understand that
introducing the bill alone does not solve the problem, it should ensure
that the neeedy and the deserving ones are benifitted from its bill, and
that it does not become a tool to be abused by the 'privilaged SC/ST'.
Please Email the Editor