Mayawati claims credit for quota bill's passage in RS

New Delhi, Dec 18: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Monday claimed credit for the passage of the quota bill in the Rajya Sabha. The bill on promotions in government services was passed in the Upper House following much debate and opposition from the Samajwadi Party (SP), the arch-rival of the BSP. Despite the SP's disrupting both houses of the Parliament, the bill was passed with 206 votes in favour and just 10 against it.

A satisfied Mayawati later said that her party had struggled a lot in passing the quota bill and appealed to all parties to pass it in the Lok Sabha as well. She said the bill would be a good thing for the country. She also thanked the government and the Opposition over the bill's passing.

An annoyed SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, meanwhile, said he could review his support to the UPA government. The bill will be taken up for debate and voting in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday where the SP is expected to disrupt the proceedings.

The controversial bill, over which the Rajya Sabha was adjourned frequently, could be moved for discussion only after the BSP chief strongly put across her demand before Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India and the chairman of the house. She also took a dig at the SP after the latter said that quota proved beneficial only for few SC/ST castes. She said there was a large number of backward castes in Uttar Pradesh but it was only the Yadavs who were actually benefitting.

Mayawati had supported the Congress-led central government during the voting on foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail in the Rajya Sabha a few days ago. Her party also bailed out the government in the Lok Sabha vote on FDI by staging a walkout.

OneIndia News