Monsoon Session of Parliament: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha to discuss SC/ST bill, OBC bill
Two crucial bills are up for discussion in the Monsoon Session of the Parliament today as Lok Sabha will discuss the contentious SC/ST bill and Rajya Sabha is up for discussion on OBC Bill.
The SC/ST bill seeks to restore the original provisions of a law on atrocities against Dalits and tribals. If passed, the bill will revert the Supreme Court's March ruling which had introduced safeguards. Dalit leaders and organisations claim that safeguards diluted the Act and rendered it toothless. The Union Cabinet had passed the bill on August 1 and it was introduced to the Lower House on Friday, August 3. BJP has issued a whip to its members of Parliament in the matter.
The discussion on the bills comes days ahead of Dalit groups call for 'Bharat Bandh' on August 9.
The order of the apex court on March 20 had put safeguards on the provisions for immediate arrest of a person accused of insulting a SC/ST member or misusing the Act, triggering a country-wide protest.
The contentious bill list for discussion in Rajya Sabha is The Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017, commonly known as OBC bill, which seeks to grant the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) constitutional status on a par with National Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. It was passed in the Lok Sabha on August 2.
Earlier on Sunday, BJP chief Amit Shah dared the Congress to clear its stand on the amended OBC bill when it is taken up in the Rajya Sabha, saying it will expose whether the party was really for the backward communities.
"Modi government has got the OBC bill passed in the Lok Sabha. This will go to the Rajya Sabha. Will (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi clear his stand before the country that whether his party will help in the passage of the bill in the Rajya Sabha or not. This will make it clear whether the Congress was really for the welfare of the backward," Shah said.
