The listed bill has reiterated Clause (3) which gives a larger legislative framework for the commission, which... Read More

(This story originally appeared in on Jul 26, 2018)

NEW DELHI: The Centre has listed the Constitution amendment bill to bestow statutory powers to the OBC Commission in the list of business of the Lok Sabha. Lok Sabha originally passed the bill in April 2017, but the Opposition-dominated Rajya Sabha returned it after making amendments in July 2017.

By listing the bill again, the government aims to send out a political message to the electorally important Other Backward Classes .

The listed bill has reiterated Clause (3) which gives a larger legislative framework for the commission, which was done away by the Rajya Sabha. However, the bill now has incorporated two amendments which the Biju Janata Dal had sought.

Changes BJD wanted were to include a woman member in the commission and allow state governments to make related policy decision without consulting the commission. When BJD member Bhartruhari Mahtab moved the two amendments to the original bill in the NDA-dominated Lok Sabha, they were rejected. The government’s deference to BJD sentiments may have to do with the party’s potential to tilt the balance in favour of the bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Though this bill has figured in the list of Lok Sabha business in the past three days, it was not in the priority list. However, a government insider indicated that it could take up the bill next week.

The government seems clear that it would not accept the demand for including a member belonging to minority communities in the commission, demanded by sections of the Opposition.

Senior BJP Rajya Sabha MP Bhupender Yadav who had headed the parliamentary standing committee that processed the bill, told ET: “The Congress party has never been interested in ensuring the passage of the bill because the Congress has never cared for the welfare of OBCs. However, the NDA government is committed to the welfare of OBCs and is determined to ensure that Parliament passes the bill.”

