New Delhi, August 9
After twin adjournments in the Rajya Sabha, the government today agreed to bring a Constitution amendment Bill providing for reservation in promotions to SCs and STs in state government jobs.

Earlier, the Supreme Court order (passed in April this year) overruling the Uttar Pradesh Government’s decision to provide reservations in government job promotions to SC/ST candidates, led to MPs, especially from the BSP, vociferously voicing their opinion on the issue.

As the House met, BSP supremo Mayawati was on her feet demanding a Constitution amendment Bill for reservation in promotion of SCs and STs in government jobs. She said there should be discussion on the matter as the government had failed to call an all-party meeting on the issue, as promised in the last session. She said a discussion had taken place in the House and there was almost unanimity among all parties on it.

Mayawati said if the issue was not sorted out, her party would not let the House function. She urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to bring in a Constitution amendment Bill on the issue during the ongoing session. As she spoke, other BSP members were on their feet and the House witnessed some angry exchanges between BSP and Congress members.

Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy said the Prime Minister would call an all-party meeting “this session itself and the issue will be resolved”. However, this did not pacify BSP members who trooped to the Well, raising anti-government slogans.

Amid commotion, Shanta Kumar of the BJP raised the issue of yoga guru Ramdev sitting on a fast against black money and said his party had given a notice for discussion on black money.

As the uproar continued, Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House till noon. When the House assembled again at noon with Tariq Anwar in the seat, BSP members continued with their protest, forcing the House to be adjourned again for 15 minutes again.