OBC reserve bill passed by two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha: to be debated in Rajya Sabha today

New Delhi, Dt

The OBC reserve bill, which gives states the right to make their own OBC lists, was passed by a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The monsoon session saw for the first time in the Lok Sabha that the government was speaking on a bill and the Opposition MPs were sitting in their seats and listening in silence without making any noise, shouting or chanting slogans. The 18th Constitutional Amendment Bill gives states the right to make their own OBC lists. The bill passed with a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha. At the time of splitting the vote, 6 votes were cast in favor of the bill while no vote was cast against it.

Minister for Social Justice and Rights in the Lok Sabha Dr. Responding to a discussion on the 'Constitutional (18th Amendment) Bill, 2021' relating to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Kumar said the support of MPs from all parties in favor of the Constitutional Amendment Bill in the House was welcome. The bill was widely debated by all parties before it was passed.

The government said that after the bill comes, state governments will have the right to prepare their OBC lists and state governments will be free to take decisions on issues like Maratha reserves. The bill was supported by all opposition parties, including the Congress. The Opposition also demanded removal of the 50 per cent limit on reserves.

Replying to a question from Opposition MPs, Union Minister for Social Justice and Rights Virendra Kumar said the BJP's policy and stance was very clear. It works for the development of every backward class in the society. Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary said that the 108th Constitutional Amendment Bill was introduced in 2014. You created the OBC Commission, but violated the rights of the states. With the majority's bahubali you are doing arbitrariness in the House. However, you have come this way by force as voices are rising from the regions. We support this bill. At the same time, we demand the removal of the 50 per cent limit on reserves.

Along with the OBC bill, the government had passed two other bills in the Lok Sabha amid opposition. The government is now expected to introduce the OBC reserve bill in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, where the bill will become law after it is passed and states will have full right to make their own OBC lists. After the passage of the 16th Constitutional Amendment Bill (Reserve Bill), the Opposition resumed its agitation and the proceedings of the Lok Sabha were adjourned.

Meanwhile, the opposition in the Rajya Sabha remained the same. Opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha chanted anti-government slogans demanding repeal of three agriculture laws and MPs rushed to the well. Some MPs climbed on the table and waved copies of the agricultural law in the air. With just three days to go before the end of the monsoon session of Parliament, the Pegasus controversy, which erupted just days before the start of the monsoon session, has rocked the opposition in both sessions and demanded a debate on the Pegasus espionage issue.