PranabDhalSamanta Posted online: Sun Dec 23 2012, 01:18 hrs
What do you have to say to the SP’s claims that the SC/ST promotions quota Bill is against other castes?These allegations are wrong and not based on facts. SC/ST quota in promotions in government jobs has been in place since 1955. It’s not new. The Supreme Court in 2006 imposed three conditions which rendered it ineffective. But, it did not abolish the provision. The blame lies with this central government. First, it did not field a competent counsel to put the facts before the court; second, it did not go for a review; and third, it did not come out with an amendment.
But they have brought it now?
They are not bringing it on their own. Why did they (Congress) not do it in 2006 if they were really interested in the welfare of SC/STs? We had to agitate in the last session to get Cabinet approval. And you have seen our agitation this time to get it introduced.
How do you then explain Sonia Gandhi jumping into the well of the House when an SP member snatched the Bill from a minister?
What happened on December 19 was a drama. There was a similar situation with the women’s reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha in 2010, but marshals were used and SP members evicted for its passage. When situation repeated itself on December 19 in Lok Sabha on this Bill, it was the government’s responsibility to request the Chair to use marshals. Even on December 20, the Congress did not want order in the House for which they forced the BJP to agitate. It’s a well known convention that whenever the senior-most leader from the Opposition wants to speak, the government requests the Chair to allow it. L K Advani was making a request. Had they allowed it, they (BJP) would not have protested. But, neither the government made a request nor the Chair heeded to his request. It was all pre-planned.
So, you feel Congress is the number one culprit?
A: Not only number one, they are 101 per cent responsible. Otherwise, the Bill would have gone through on December 19 itself.
But it was the BJP that was agitating on December 20?
The government, the Congress is responsible for 19 as well as for 20 (December). I saw it myself.
BJP looks like taking a different line in the Lok Sabha. Have they changed their stand?
I would have known that only if the House had functioned and BJP made its arguments. When none of its leaders are speaking against it in public, I can’t make loose remarks against them.
Your hopes from the next session?
It depends on the intentions of the government. So far, their intentions have been doubtful in the Lok Sabha.
So, will the BSP go the extent of withdrawing its support to the government?
We supported the central government only to keep communal forces out of power. We have been raising voices against their (UPA government’s) failure in Parliament. We have repeatedly told them to make amends. They have only been giving assurances, doing nothing. Now, three-and-half years have passed and only about one year and a few months remain. Let’s say, if we withdraw our support when only over a year is left, they will get one more excuse that they could have done a miracle in the remaining time had the BSP not withdrawn support. That’s why we don’t want to give them a reason to make excuses. We have suffered them...we will suffer for another one year and a few months. The electorate of the country will punish them.
What do you have to say about allegations of CBI pressure on you?
Who is afraid of the CBI? When the issue of review is in the Supreme Court, why should I fear CBI? It was the BJP which misused CBI. I went to the SC against the CBI. The SC gave me justice. As for the review, the person who has filed review is not even a party and the CBI has not filed review.
http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/1049074/