‘Whose Govt Was There In 2012?’: Centre Hits Back At Congress Saying It Wasn’t A Party In SC’s Order On Quota

Amid opposition uproar in Lok Sabha over the Supreme Court’s ruling stating that states are not bound to provide reservation in appointments and there is no fundamental right to claim quota in promotions, Union minister Thawar Chand Gehlot said in Parliament on Monday (10 February) that Union government has nothing to do with the apex court’s ruling, reports Hindustan Times.

“The Centre was never made a party to the case, nor were we asked to present any declaration. The matter arose due to a decision taken by Uttarkhand government in 2012. There was Congress government in the state at that time,” Gehlot said in the Lok Sabha as per the report.

The Supreme Court's last week verdict on reservation in jobs and promotions for SCs and STs created pandemonium in the Lok Sabha on Monday with entire opposition blaming the Centre for "snatching" the rights of the backward community and the government hitting back by accusing opponents of spreading rumour.

Rejecting the allegation of the Congress, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, "It was the Supreme Court's judgment and the government has nothing to do with that."

Joshi alleged that it was the Congress government in 2012 when the matter came in the court.

Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised the issue during Zero Hour attacking the government on what he said "snatching the rights of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes" and that they are "talking about Manuwad instead of nationalism".

"There has been discrimination against the SCs and STs for centuries. After Independence, the government decided to give them rights. What happened to this government this time? Why the government is trying to take away the rights of SCs and STs," Chowdhury asked.

Chowdhury had also raised the issue during the Question Hour but then he was not allowed to take up the matter.

BJP's ally Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) also raised the issue in the Lok Sabha with its leader Chirag Paswan saying "reservation is the constitutional right of SCs and STs", and our party "dismisses the February 7 verdict of the Supreme Court" which says that reservation is not the fundamental right of the community.

"I request the government to consider the matter and put the SC/ST reservation under 9th Schedule of the Constitution so that the matters related to it being raised from time to time should stop permanently."

(With IANS Inputs)