Govt introduces Quota Bill in LS, TMC says it will mislead youth with false hopes, debate continues

Drawing the history of commissions formed for reservation for SC/ST and backward castes for their social and educational upliftment, LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan praised Ambedkar, Vivekanand and other social reformers. He said that only the issue of reservation to upper caste economically weak section was pending which this bill seeks to sort out.

Anandrao Adsul, MP Shiv Sena threw light on the problems raised after the introduction of GST and said that the problems should be sorted. The quota bill will help the economically backwards, he says.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay of TMC asks why does the Government not take up the women reservation bill with the same priority as this quota bill? This bill is not only about jobs, but also about misleading the youth with false hopes and fake dreams

Congress MP KV Thomas says the Bill was moved in haste, less than a day after Union Cabinet took the decision and that any hasty decision was bound to end in a mess.

“We support this quota bill, we are not against this, but the way it is being brought raises questions on your sincerity. My request is to send this to JPC first,” said Thomas.

In the Statement of Objects and Reasons, the Constitution Amendment Bill proposes reservation for EWS in private educational institutions.

Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister for Social Justice moved a motion to discuss the Constitution Amendment Bill to provide 10 per cent reservation to economically backward upper caste people.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill seeks to amend Citizenship Act, 1955, to grant Indian nationality to people from minority communities — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians — from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after living in India for six years, instead of 12, even if they don't possess any proper document

Five-judge Constitution bench of Supreme Court to hear Ayodhya case on January 10. SC bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justices SA Bobde, NV Ramana, UU Lalit and DY Chandrachud to hear Ram Mandir-Babri case.

Earlier on Friday, Supreme Court had said an "appropriate bench" on January 10 will fix the date of hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land title dispute case.

"Further orders in the matter will be passed on January 10 by the appropriate Bench, as may be constituted," a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul had said.

Opposition leaders protest in the Parliament premises against central government for extending Rajya Sabha session by a day; allege it was extended without consensus

SP leader and MP Mulayam Singh Yadav said in the Lok Sabha that "we should learn how to develop the nation from the United States."

"The AIDUF is an Assam-based political party. The Bill has evoked strong protests in Assam. The AGP, another Assam party is also opposing the Bill," AIDUF MP Badruddin Ajmal said

"The Central BJP government has brought such a reservation for the coming Parliamentary polls, and has started a disastrous game with the backward classes, SC and ST, who have been given a right to employment,” DMK President MK Stalin said. Stalin further said the 10 percent quota would not stand the legal scrutiny "as it has been clearly stated that reservation should be for those who are socially and educationally backward.Economically backwardness is against the Constitution," he said.

Banking and postal services were partially affected in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday as the Central Trade Unions went on a two-day nationwide strike against the government's alleged anti-worker policies and unilateral labour reforms. Employees of some of the major banks, insurance companies and post offices joined the strike, which evoked a mixed response in the state. A trade union leader, however, claimed that the strike had a huge impact in Chhattisgarh.

"With an eye on elections, the country is being divided In a secular nation, citizenship cannot be granted on basis of religion," Mohammed Salim said.

One strike was called by the North East Students Organisation (NESO) in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The second was the two-day nationwide strike called by 10 trade unions against the Centre's "pro-corporate, anti-national and anti-people" policies. All educational institutes and public facilities including in Imphal city wore a deserted look. Buses, trucks and other commercial vehicles went off the roads. Shops and businesses were shut. Some strike supporters blocked vehicular movement in some areas.

Rajya Sabha on Tuesday witnessed frequent adjournments, washing out proceeding before adjourning for the day even as the House extended its sitting by a day till Wednesday.

The Upper House witnessed unruly sceness, with almost entire Opposition in its feet over alleged misuse of CBI and demand for discussion on the issue under rule 267 suspending the listed business.

"The recommendations of the committee cannot be implemented without caste census. The government should first do caste census and then implement any such recommendation. The reservation should be according to 'jiski jitni sankhya bhari, uski utni bhagidaari' (based on population). And when the government has not done any census, how can it provide quota within quota," Union minister and Apna Dal (S) leader Anupriya Patel said.

SBSP chief and cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar said, "If the government does not implement recommendations of the report within 100 days, my party will leave the BJP and contest on all 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh."

Ruckus in Rajya Sabha as MP's of opposition parties enter the Well of the House

Agitators clashed with the police, gheraoed Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's house at his native place in Dibrugarh, blocked national highways and damaged vehicles in Assam during an 11-hour "bandh" called by the AASU to protest against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Normal life was hit in the Brahmaputra valley and was partially affected in the Barak valley due to a "north-east bandh" called separately by the North East Students' Organisation (NESO).

TMC MP Saugata Roy says the citizenship bill will "lead to fires" not just in Assam but in the whole of the North East. He clarifies that this was not a threat, amid objections to his statement, but a warning of what is to come

Congress leader and MP Mallikarjun Kharge says many people have reservations about the bill. He requests the Speaker to send the bill to a select committee as it is related to a constitutional matter. He highlights the unrest in Assam over the bill as it does not address the Assam Accord

“We are committed toward NRC. There will be no discrimination in NRC. All the necessary steps will be taken to deal with illegal migrants,” said Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha

“The Citizenship Amendment Bill is important to protect the interest of people of our country,” said Rajnath Singh

The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, as amended, has been passed in the Lok Sabha.

“CBI chief was removed at 1 AM in the night because he was about to begin an investigation in the Rafale scam. Now that he has been reinstated, some justice has been done. Now let's see what happens,” said Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

"Janata Dal (Secular) supports the 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions for economically weaker sections of the upper castes," he said in a tweet.

"We have always stood for, and will continue to stand for betterment of the underprivileged and weaker sections of the society," the veteran leader added.

A number of central government offices, banks, port trusts and other state government departments wore a deserted look on Tuesday as employees launched a two-day nationwide trade strike, a top organiser said. "In Mumbai, even the public bus service, BEST, has gone on an indefinite strike since midnight to protest against the 'anti-workers policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre'," Trade Unions Joint Action Committee (Maharashtra) Convenor Vishwas Utagi said.

The two-day nationwide shutdown called by trade unions evoked a mixed response in Karnataka on Tuesday, with government offices and bus services functioning normally in most parts of the state. "Thousands of trade union members and workers have joined the strike demanding minimum wage of Rs 18,000 per month and abolishing the contract system among other demands," All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) leader M.D. Harigovind said.

"Welcome SCs decision to reinstate #AlokVerma as CBI Dir. (It) reinstates belief in independent institutions of our democracy that are its pillars. Time for the Central government to stop misusing its influence to arm twist investigative agencies like (the) NIA and CBI for political vendetta" Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.

The Central government has tabled the Quota Bill in Lok Sabha. The debate will begin at 2 pm. Bill to grant 10 pc quota to economically backward sections in general category introduced in Lok Sabha

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Tuesday said the Supreme Court judgment reinstating CBI Director Alok Verma was a strong indictment of Narendra Modi and said the Prime Minister should have quit.

"If the Prime Minister had a conscience, he should have resigned. This is one more reason why he and his government must be removed from office by the people in the forthcoming elections," it said.

The two-day nationwide strike called by various trade unions in protest against the Centre's anti-labour policies affected normal life in Odisha on Tuesday. Commuters were having a tough time finding buses and auto rickshaws in several cities as protesters staged road blockade at various places.

Trains were stopped, buses and auto-rickshaws kept off roads as two day general strike called by ten central trade unions against "anti-labour policies" of the central government, hit normal life in the southern state on Tuesday. Workers from various sectors have extended support to the two-day strike. Trains were stopped in Thiruvananthapuram, Tripunithura, Shoranur railway stations.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said the decision to send the CBI's two senior officers on leave was taken by the government on the recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission. He said that the government would comply with the orders of the apex court.

“MODI = Muzzling of Democratic Institutions! 1st, you lose 4 economic advisors in a row including 2 RBI Governors, 2nd, 4 SC judges go public on Judge Loya, Then you destroy credibility & competence of the CBI & CVC. This is ur model of ‘minimum governance, maximum govt’,” Randeep Surjewala said.

“Another big question for Modiji. After making #CBI Chief suffer the consequences of your illegal decision for 3 months, will you show the courage to return three months of lost tenure? Unless you are afraid of investigation into #RafaleScam!,” asks Surjewala

“Modiji pls remember, Govts have come and gone. Integrity of our institutions have survived. Let this be a lesson to you about the strength of our democracy and the Constitution. Let this be a lesson that howsoever despotic u may be, law catches up in the end,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala

“Modiji adds another 1st to his list After being the first PM to be exposed destroying the #CBI before the SC, After having ruined CVC’s credibility (requiring supervision by former SC judge), Mr. Modi has now become 1st PM to have his illegal orders set aside by the SC,” said Randeep Surjewala

The Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated Alok Verma as the CBI Director, setting aside the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Centre's decision to divest him of his powers to function as the head of the investigating agency.

Pronouncing the judgement authored by Chief Justice Gogoi, Justice Kaul said the committee will meet within seven days from Tuesday and till then Verma will "cease and desist" from taking from taking any "major policy" decision.