Bill on Backward Classes' Commission sent to Select Committee

A bill to accord constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was on Tuesday referred to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha after the Opposition blocked its consideration in the House.

A motion for sending the National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill to the Select Committee was moved by Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot and it was adopted by the House.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said the Committee will submit its report in the House on the last day of the first week of the next session.

The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday and the government tried to push its consideration by the Upper House on Tuesday but the combined Opposition resisted it.

While moving the bill for consideration, Gehlot said that it had been passed by the Lok Sabha with a huge majority and hence should be taken up in the Upper House.

He reminded the members of the past instances when the Rajya Sabha had taken "unanimous" decisions in the interest of the country.

"The OBC Commission needs to be set up without delay, for which it is necessary that the bill is passed," he said.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukthar Abbas Naqvi too requested the Chair to take up the bill.

"This is a long-pending demand, understand the gravity of the issue," he said.

HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar too said it would be nice if the House takes up the bill as a message will go outside that "we are sensitive" about the issue.

The Opposition members, however, did not yield to the government's demand, saying they cannot allow the debate at a short notice as they wish to move amendments to the bill and refer it to a Select Committee of the House.