Quota Bill in Rajya Sabha: Opposition all set to question timing, corner govt

New Delhi, News24 Bureau, Jan 9: NDA is jubilant that the General Category Quota Bill has been passed. But this celebration will be short-lived if the Bill is not passed in the Rajya Sabha.Opposition parties are likely to question the Narendra Modi government on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling block lacks majority, over the timing of the general category reservation bill and have asked all their members to be present in full strength, sources said. The tming of the bill, when the government tenure is in the last leg and the Lok Sabha elections are due in a couple of months, does raise an antena. The intentions of the government, doubt the Opoosition, is not clean and this may just be yet another political stunt.While virtually all parties supported the passage of the bill that provides 10 per cent quota for the general category poor in jobs and education in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the sources said they are likely to take a tougher stand in the Rajya Sabha on the basis of their sheer numbers.With 73 MPs, the BJP has the highest number of seats in the house, which currently has a strength of 244.This is followed by the Congress which has 50 members.The sources also said members of opposition parties are upset over the extension of the Rajya Sabha proceedings by a day and will protest in the house.The opposition members did not allow the Upper House to transact any business on Tuesday as the house was adjourned six times during the day.The sources said while the Congress is supporting the bill, other opposition parties may create hurdle in its passage.BJP leaders, however, said that if opposition parties do not extend support to the bill, they will have to face voters' wrath in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday with 323 members voting in its favour and only three voting against it.

WIth Agencies