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Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Parliament, on Tuesday, passed a landmark bill to provide 10 per cent reservation in jobs and education for the general category poor with most parties backing the proposed legislation. The government described it as historic and in the country's interest.
Here are 10 points:
- Opposition, including the Congress, dubbed the proposed law as a political gimmick that may not stand judicial scrutiny but came around to support it during voting, underlining the huge political import of the measure aimed at placating upper castes.
- As many as 323 members voted in support of the bill.
- The bill seeks to amend Article 15 and 16 of the Constitution to enable reservation for the "economically weaker" sections in the general category.
- Three members voted against the bill.
- The government will table the bill in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday as the Constitution (103rd Amendment) Bill.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi were present in the Lower House when the bill was passed.
- Replying to an over four and half hour debate, Social Justice Minister Thaavarchand Gehlot sought to allay doubts raised by several opposition members about the legislation's fate if challenged in the Supreme Court, saying he can say with confidence that the apex court will accept it.
- Describing the bill as a political gimmick, opposition parties led by the Congress expressed apprehension that such a law may not stand judicial scrutiny.
- Samajwadi Party's Dharmendra Yadav supported the bill but demanded that the government release census figures and also provide reservation to backward castes in line with their population. RJD echoed a similar view.
- BJP ally and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan made a pitch for creation of Indian Judicial Services and also sought reservation in the private sector, as he backed the bill.
WATCH VIDEO: Bill On Reservation On Economic Basis Passed In Lok Sabha, 323 Members Vote In Favour
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(With PTI inputs)
