Rajya Sabha passes 10 percent quota Bill: Ramdas Athawale in his penchant for poems, critiques Congress, praises Modi govt

The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, in his usual creative way, showed support for the reservation Bill, which was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 165 ‘ayes’ on Wednesday.

The minister began his speech in his usual way with poems and the treasury benches in the Upper House were in splits. “To win election one should do whatever is needed. You do that too,” Athawale told Congress members in the House.

Sh. Ramdas Athawale's Speech | The Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019: https://t.co/o0mWidffZu via @YouTube

— Rajya Sabha TV (@rajyasabhatv) January 9, 2019

Athawale, chief of the Republic Party of India, had also recited poetry on Tuesday before delivering his speech, The Scroll reported.

His recitation included digs at Congress president Rahul Gandhi and the assertion that Narendra Modi government would remain in power in 2019.

After the Lok Sabha passed the 124th Constitution Amendment Bill 2019 on Tuesday, the Rajya Sabha cleared it as well, with more than two-thirds majority following an intense debate in the Upper House. The bill will allow 10 percent reservation in jobs and educational institutes for the economically backward sections in the General category.

“The BJP is for the Dalits, for all communities, for every religion, every caste, everyone,” he had said.

Athawale further added that the 27 percent reservation for OBCs should be increased in proportion to their population, starting by an increase of at least 10 percent, The Indian Express reported.