Government should call special session of Parliament, bring bill to nullify apex court verdict on sub-classification within SCs, STs: Mayawati

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India] August 10 (ANI): Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Saturday demanded that the government convene a special session of Parliament soon bring a constitutional amendment bill to nullify the effect of the Supreme Court ruling which said that the state governments have the authority to create sub-classifications within the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

The Supreme Court had also suggested evolving a framework for identifying the creamy layer among the Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes.

Mayawati slammed both the BJP and Congress, saying that the ruling party at the Centre should have extended the budget session of Parliament and brought a bill to nullify the impact of SC verdict as it is “damaging for” SCs and STs. She said while the Congress showed copy of Constitution during its campaign for Lok Sabha polls, it has shown no hurry to speak on the apex court verdict pertaining to sub-classification for SCs and STs.

The BSP leader referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with SC and ST MPs of his party and said more needs to be done.

“BJP SC/ST MPs met the PM and the PM assured them that there will be no creamy layer and sub-classification. Yesterday I had tweeted that if the assurance given is fulfilled, then our party will welcome it. I also said that this assurance can be fulfilled only if the Central Government brings a Constitution Amendment in the current Parliament session itself and cancels the decision of the Supreme Court…I also said that this difficult situation would not have arisen today if the Central Government had put its arguments strongly through its Attorney General,” she said.

“The Parliament Session was adjourned even before the scheduled date and on the other hand, the Prime Minister gave hollow assurances that the decision of the Supreme Court will not be implemented. The lack of action in this matter clearly shows that either the Prime Minister has not given any such assurance to his MPs or such assurance has been given only to confuse and mislead these sections of people,” she added.

The BSP leader said the political parties should make their position clear on the issue.

“The rest of the parties which are silent should clarify their position on this… Congress party and company are not talking about the constitution or reservation right now. Assurances have come from the Prime Minister, but assurances alone will not work… Otherwise, in the states where assembly elections are going to be held soon, the people of these classes will not forgive the BJP, Congress or other parties. They have deceived the people by saying that we will save the Constitution. Why are they silent now? It is clear that neither are they going to save the Constitution nor the reservation. They should call a session of Parliament soon and the BJP government and other parties should also clarify their stand,” she said.

The government said on Friday that there is no provision for creamy layer in the reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Constitution.

Information and Broadcasting Minister said at a media briefing union cabinet discussed the Supreme Court verdict.

“The Supreme Court had pronounced a judgment regarding the reservation and made a suggestion…A well thought through decision is that the NDA government is committed to adhering to the provisions of the Constitution formed by BR Ambedkar. According to that there is no provision for a creamy layer in the SC, ST reservation,”,” he said.