Ruckus in Parliament as SP seeks Muslim quotas

Both houses of Parliament saw repeated adjournments, and were finally adjourned early for the day as Samajwadi Party members kept rushing into the well, protesting vociferously against the bill to provide reservations for Scheduled Castes and Tribes in promotions in government jobs.

In the Lok Sabha, the SP gave the issue a new twist by demanding proportionate reservation for Muslims through a Constitutional amendment.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Ram Gopal Yadav of the SP said the Rajinder Sachar Committee in its report pointed out that the condition of Muslims was worse than that of Dalits and so there should a Constitutional amendment to provide for quota to Muslims.

"When quota in promotion (for SC/ST) can be given by amending Constitution, then why should Muslims not be given reservation in proportion to their population through a Constitution Amendment Bill," Yadav asked.

LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan and Rashtriya Janata Dal members supported him.

Earlier, as soon as the house met for the day, Yadav said he has given a notice for suspension of Question Hour to take up the issue. The SP members rushed into the well and stood near the podium raising slogans for implementation of the Sachar Committee report.