New Delhi: The bill to provide 10 per cent quota in jobs and education to general category candidates who belong to economically weaker sections was passed in Rajya Sabha today. The general category reservation bill was passed by Lok Sabha on Tuesday. While many opposition parties had dubbed the government's move a "political gimmick" in the four-and-half-hour debate yesterday, most backed the bill, which, in a first, extends reservation to upper castes. The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed a Constitution Amendment Bill to grant 10 percent reservation in education and government jobs to economically-weaker individuals belonging to the general category, across religions.
Here are the Highlights on the Reservation Bill in Rajya Sabha:
Jan 09, 2019 22:49 (IST)
Vice-President of India Venkaiah Naidu says the Bill fulfills long-felt need and is a step towards social cohesion. "It helps in upliftment of economically backward sections," he tweets.
Jan 09, 2019 22:37 (IST)
"Passage of The Constitution (One Hundred And Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019 in both Houses of Parliament is a victory for social justice. It ensures a wider canvas for our Yuva Shakti to showcase their prowess and contribute towards India's transformation," tweets PM Modi.
Jan 09, 2019 22:31 (IST)
Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die.
Jan 09, 2019 22:30 (IST)
Rajya Sabha passes the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 with 165 'ayes'. The bill will provide reservation for economically weaker section of the society.
Jan 09, 2019 22:22 (IST)
Voting on amendments going on for the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Rajya Sabha.
Jan 09, 2019 22:10 (IST)
Rajya Sabha passes motion for consideration of Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 with 149 votes. The bill will provide reservation for economically weaker section of the society in higher educational institutions.
Jan 09, 2019 22:05 (IST)
Voting on Quota Bill begins in Rajya Sabha.
Jan 09, 2019 21:14 (IST)
Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh says: "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."
Jan 09, 2019 19:00 (IST)
Congress leader Kapil Sibal says: "The Mandal Commission provision of 10% reservation for economically weaker category was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. If a nine-judge bench held it unconstitutional, how can you amend the constitution?"
Jan 09, 2019 18:32 (IST)
Terming the quota bill as unconstitutional and unsustainable, AIADMK leader A Navaneethakrishnan opposed the Bill. He said the Tamil Nadu government already provides reservations of 69 per cent to backward classes and the bill would impact the 31 per cent people who fall in "open quota" in the state.
Jan 09, 2019 17:09 (IST)
TMC leader Derek O'Brien says: "This bill (Quota Bill) is an acknowledgement of guilt, that we haven't created any jobs in last 4 and a half years. It redefines India's poverty line of Rs 32 a day, if we look at the number of Rs 8 lakh a year, new poverty line is Rs 2,100 a day."
Jan 09, 2019 12:42 (IST)
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 PM after uproar over the general category quota bill.