Govt is not serious about SC/ST bill, accuses Mayawati

Accusing the government of not being serious in passing the bill for providing quota for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes in promotions in government jobs, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati threatened to take a 'tougher' stand, saying her Wednesday's 'outburst' in the Rajya Sabha was only 'the first step'.

The BSP had stalled proceedings in both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday and Mayawati had questioned Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari for not initiating action against those members who were disrupting business in the House.

"I had said two days ago that BSP would adopt a 'tough' stand. It is the responsibility of the government and the Rajya Sabha chairman to bring the House in order. Wednesday's (outburst) was our first tough stand in Rajya Sabha. We will take our next stand at an appropriate time," Mayawati told reporters outside Parliament House.

She earlier said ensuring that the House was in order was the job of the government and the Rajya Sabha Chairman and they need to see this so that the SC/ST bill could be taken up for passage.

She accused the government of not being serious on the passage of the SC/ST quota bill.

"If the government is actually serious about the passage of the bill and other public interest legislations, then the government as well as the Chairman should see that the House should function in order," she said.

The BSP chief said that she has been observing for a few days that the proceedings in Rajya Sabha have been disrupted after 12 noon.