Private sector quota issue generates passion in Lok Sabha

New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) The issue of reservation in private sector generated some passion in Lok Sabha today but before it could turn into a slanging match between the Congress and BJP members, Question Hour got over, also preventing Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar from replying to a supplementary on it.

While reiterating the commitment of UPA government to implement reservation for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the private sector in compliance with the National Common Minimum Programme, the Minister took a dig at Syed Shahnawaz Hussain (BJP), saying she was happy the member had woken up now after having remained silent during tenure of the previous NDA government.

Replying to his query, Ms Meira Kumar reminded him that it was during the NDA regime, the National Comission For SC/ST, in its fifth report, had recommended reservation in the private sector. The memorandum of action taken was then also laid on the table of the House in 2002 but the then government did not act on it. She said the 6th report by the Commission had repeated the same recommendation and in the memorandum of action laid of the House in December-2006, the UPA government had accepted the recommendation.

Having expressed his disappointment at the Minister's written reply, Mr Hussain dubbed her oral submission '' a political speech...only a slogan,'' alleging she was trying to ''befool and mislead the House.'' Congress members strongly protested to remarks of the BJP member. But some members of the main Opposition, including Mr Vijay Kumar Khandelwal, stood up and tried to shout out the Congress MPs.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee tried to calm shouting members and allowed the Minister to reply to charges made by Mr Hussain. But before Meira Kumar could utilise the half a minute left to rebut the allegation of the BJP member, time ran out amid continuing din, leading the Speaker to announce end of Question Hour.

UNI