Government tables Quota Bill for upper castes in Lok Sabha

The Bill, which is seen as a crucial move by the government before the Lok Sabha polls, is seeking to provide 10 per cent reservation for economically backward sections in the country in the general category in government jobs and even in higher educational institutions.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawarchand Gehlot tabled the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Parliament.

PM Narendra Modi-led Cabinet on Monday announced a 10 percent reservation for economically backward upper castes in government jobs and higher educations.

Despite projecting herself as a staunch opponent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming General Elections, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday said she will support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's recent reservation move.

Though she termed the move as an "election stunt", Mayawati said it will support the government to amend the constitution, which permits only 50 percent reservation.

The BSP supremo said: "The move is an election stunt of the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. But the BSP will support the amendment of the constitution. We have been speaking in favour of it for a long time."

The decision, say sources, is in line with the view of its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that reservation should be along economic lines and not just based on caste.

Apart from Mayawati, several opposition leaders have said the move is an "election stunt" of the BJP as the country is heading towards the General Elections in less than 100 days.

Meanwhile, the government has also extended the Rajya Sabha proceedings by a day till Jan 9 to take up the proposed legislation on the 10 percent quota reservation for economically backward sections in the country in the general category, media reports said.

The Winter Session of the Parliament had started on Dec 11.

It was earlier scheduled to end on Jan 8.