Cong, BJP both created hurdles in promotion quota: Mayawati

NAGPUR: BSP supremo Mayawati today accused Congress and BJP of conspiring to stall the bill on quota in promotion for SCs/STs in government jobs.

Congress-led UPA government could also have filed a review petition in the Supreme Court, which had quashed UP government's decision on reservation in promotions for SC/STs, but it did not, Mayawati alleged while addressing a state-level rally of party workers here.

Congress could have also asked a competent legal counsel to defend the case of continuing the reservation quota in promotions, but it did not do so, she said.

Both Congress and the BJP conspired to deny the rights to lakhs of government employees, she alleged and asked the cadre to maintain equi-distance from both the parties.

BSP had to take the fight to streets and finally to Parliament.

"Though we have succeeded partially as the Rajya Sabha has passed the Amendment Bill, but it is still pending in the Lok Sabha," she said.

She said the Supreme Court ruling has affected the reservation in promotions which the employees enjoyed since 1955.

"The SC verdict has started showing its ill-effects in states like Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh where a number of SC/ST employees are being denied promotions," she said.