Bill for promotions of SC/STs to be tabled in Rajya Sabha today

NEW DELHI: The Centre plans to introduce a bill for providing reservation to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in promotions in government jobs, in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, a day after the Cabinet cleared it.

Though the bill, which requires an amendment of the Constitution, has the backing of all parties - except Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party - it is unlikely to see a smooth passage. The principal opposition, BJP, is unlikely to suspend its ongoing protest over the coal blocks allocations, which has stalled Parliament since August 21.

"Let the prime minister get up and tell the House that he will put in his papers after the passage of the bill. Corruption and social justice cannot coexist," said a senior BJP leader, who did not wish to be named. BJP's stand may put a spanner in the works because a Constitution amendment bill cannot be passed when the House is not in order. The bill will have to be put to vote and endorsed by a two-thirds majority, present and voting. The bill was cleared by the Cabinet on Tuesday morning under pressure from Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, who lends outside support to the Congress-led ruling coalition and whose main support base comprises Dalits. For the first time, Mayawati reached out to BJP's Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, leaders of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, respectively, and sought their cooperation for passing the bill. According to a leader privy to the details of the meetings, the BSP leader suggested that the BJP pause its protests till the House passes the bill.

But the BJP leaders did not give any commitment to the BSP chief, the leader added. At a meeting of senior BJP leaders at LK Advani's residence later, the party, which has given 'corruption' the topmost priority, decided to persist with its three demands - cancellation of coal blocks, impartial probe and the prime minister's resignation - in the House.

Congress hopes championing the legislation would help it win back the support of Dalits and Tribals, who have moved to rival parties. Tribals, for example, have moved away to BJP in MP, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh.

However, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav hit out at the government and said the bill was unconstitutional. "The Supreme Court has quashed it. Still, the government wants to bring the bill because it is politically motivated. Just as we did not allow the women's reservation bill to be passed, we will not allow this bill either," said Yadav, whose party also supports the government from outside but has joined protests over coal blocks allocations.

Yadav's point was endorsed by experts who pointed out that the SC has said that the basic structure, doctrine and fundamentals of equality enshrined in the Constitution should not be violated.