SC/ST promotions bill: Ansari begins consultations to end RS deadlock

New Delhi Amid pressure from SP and BSP, the government has started intense consultations to find a way out of the deadlock over the bill providing for reservation to SC/STs in government job promotions. As part of the consultations, Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari today held a meeting of various political parties in his chamber, with Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley, BSP leader Satish Mishra, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and MoS in PMO V Narayanasamy attending it. While Ram Gopal Yadav has pledged to talk to SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Satish Mishra is set to talk to BSP chief Mayawati to find a way out. Pushed by BSP chief Mayawati, the government is under pressure to get the bill passed in the Upper House after BSP backed it in both Houses of Parliament on FDI in retail. Mayawati has said she will be forced to take a tough stand if the amendment bill is not passed. “UPA must ensure that there is debate on quota bill in Parliament,” Mayawati said, adding “it is upto the Rajya Sabha Chairman to ensure that there is order in the House and it runs smoothly to pass the Bill.” Narayanasamy said “the government is committed to SC/ST Bill bill and get it passed in this session itself and is holding consultations in this regard. The PM has also held two all-party meetings on this issue.” Threatening to stall Rajya Sabha proceedings if the government pushed for the bill, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said “we will disrupt the House and not allow it to function if the Bill is passed. We will continue to oppose the Bill and we are ready for suspension.” [caption id=“attachment_552424” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Hamid Ansari during a Rajya Sabha session. PTI[/caption] Congress Spokesman P C Chacko said while the Bill is the commitment of Congress party, “ultimately, it is the collective wisdom of Parliament” that will decide on the issue.Chacko said “the House has to decide. “Our commitment is clear. This is not something that has to do with the present context (linking it with FDI). We hope this reservation is given full support by all parties. We cannot compromise on it as we have pushed it. It is a political commitment of Congress party. We fully support it.” Mayawati earlier said “we will see for two-three days more. We will see the government’s stand on the issue. What they do and what the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha says. Then, we will decide and a take a tough stand. The SC/ST bill is a very serious issue for us.” Meanwhile, sources said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath is likely to talk to SP and BSP in a bid to ensure that Parliament proceedings are not disrupted. While SP has been opposed to the quota in promotions, BSP has been supporting it. Members of both parties have been vociferously raising their demands, leading to disruption of proceedings in the Upper House. At the informal consultations began today, Ansari is understood to have tried to persuade the leaders of the two parties to allow the House to function. The sources said the Parliamentary Affairs Minister is likely to take the initiative in talking to the leaders of the two parties to end the impasse. Members of both the parties, which had last week helped the UPA win the vote on FDI retail, have been repeatedly obstructing proceedings in the Rajya Sabha. Earlier, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said his party would continue to stall Rajya Sabha proceedings on the issue and would do so even at the risk of facing suspension. PTI PTI