Clamour for minority quota in Lokpal, Lok Sabha disrupted

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha was disrupted twice Thursday ahead of the tabling of the much-awaited Lokpal bill, with some parties firmly demanding a quota for minorities in the proposed anti-corruption ombudsman agency.

Leaders of smaller parties - that included the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Samajwadi Party and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) - favoured reservation for minorities, particularly Muslims.

Lalu Prasad of the RJD was the first to raise the red flag over the proposed legislation that envisages the setting up of an ombudsman to check corrupt politicians and government officials.

The bill is expected to be tabled Thursday in the Lok Sabha that has already seen two adjournments since the sitting began in the morning.

Amid an uproar, the RJD leader questioned the government's intentions over what he called an "incomplete" bill and demanded a separate quota for minorities in the Lokpal structure.

"There should be reservation for minorities," he shouted in the house when Speaker Meira Kumar allowed him to raise the matter ahead of the introduction of the bill.

Lalu Prasad accused the government of having "succumbed to pressure from the BJP and the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and removed the provision for minority quota" from the Lokpal bill.

He also raised objections over some MPs not receiving the copy of the bill before it was tabled.

"They (the government) said the bill has not been printed. I didn't get it, many members didn't get it...How did the electronic media receive the copies of the bill?" the RJD leader asked.

There was ruckus in the house as Lalu Prasad spoke, forcing the speaker to adjourn the house till 2 p.m.

When the house reconvened at 2 p.m., Mulayam Singh Yadav of the SP raised the issue of Muslims in the country and sought promise from the government on the implementation of the Sachar Committee report and a separate quota for minorities in the Lokpal.

"Why has the quota for minorities been dropped from the Lokpal body? If you satisfy us with your replies and promise the Sachar Committee recommendations would be implemented and a quota for minorities announced, we will support the bill," Mulayam Singh said.

Sharad Yadav of the JD-U reminded the government of the promise at an all-party meeting and said there was a consensus that weaker sections of people would be incorporated in the Lokpal. The reservation ring should include them, he said.

Basudeb Acharya of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) asked the government to clear its stand on the Sachar Committee and Ranganath Misra Commission reports and tell the government what it was doing about it.

A din erupted in the house and Deputy Speaker Karia Munda in the chair adjourned the house till 3.30 p.m.

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Jamia Vice- Chancellor Najeeb Jung confer the degree of "Doctor of Letters"( Honoris Causa) on Prof. Amartya Sen at a special convocation, in New Delhi on Friday.

(Photo: IANS)