SP firm on opposing quota bill vote in Rajya Sabha today

The Samajwadi Party has made it clear that it will continue to oppose the bill to provide quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in promotions in government jobs.

The Rajya Sabha will vote on Monday on the bill seeking to provide quota in promotions in government jobs.

Senior SP leader Mohan Singh on Monday said that his party will oppose the bill seeking to provide quota in promotions.

He said: "The Supreme court has denied an approval thrice, but the government is still after making a bill on it. We will oppose it."

Voting is likely to take place on the quota bill at around 5 pm in the Rajya Sabha.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's office, V Narayanasamy, introduced the quota bill in the Rajya Sabha earlier on Thursday.

The bill that seeks to provide reservation in government jobs for SC/STs resulted in chaos inside Parliament last week, with unruly scenes and disruptions being witnessed in the Rajya Sabha, including a walkout by the Samajwadi Party.

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has termed the proposed legislation on SC/ST quota in promotion as 'anti-national', has hinted at withdrawing support from the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government if the bill is passed.

The quota bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in the monsoon session, but could not be taken up due to disruption on coal block issue.

The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party has been demanding that the bill be passed, but the SP is opposing it.