PATNA: The Bihar govt is doing all it can to unlock the state’s revised reservation limit of 65% that was struck down by Patna high court, including requesting the Centre to incorporate it into the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution to make it immune from judicial scrutiny, CM Nitish Kumar said Wednesday as the assembly descended into bedlam for the second day.
Nitish informed the House that the JD(U)-BJP coalition had already moved Supreme Court against the ruling by an HC bench in June, based on a PIL challenging the hike in reservation for SC, ST and backward classes from 50% to 65%.
As the opposition refused to relent, shifting the focus to Bihar’s unfulfilled demand for special status, Nitish said, “Kuchh idea tha (Did you have any idea)? You people have been protesting since Tuesday while we have been fighting for it (special status) since 2010.”
The CM also reminded everyone that the hike in reservation wouldn’t have happened had he not taken the initiative.
“It was at my behest that you all agreed to a caste survey, after which quotas for SCs, STs, OBCs and the extremely backward classes were hiked to 65% in govt jobs and educational institutions,” he said.
“Your protest has no meaning. Congress did nothing to make this (increased reservation) happen while in govt.”
The continuing commotion, including opposition members shouting slogans and trooping to the well of the House, led speaker Nand Kishore Yadav to adjourn the proceedings till 2pm.
Nitish informed the House that the JD(U)-BJP coalition had already moved Supreme Court against the ruling by an HC bench in June, based on a PIL challenging the hike in reservation for SC, ST and backward classes from 50% to 65%.
As the opposition refused to relent, shifting the focus to Bihar’s unfulfilled demand for special status, Nitish said, “Kuchh idea tha (Did you have any idea)? You people have been protesting since Tuesday while we have been fighting for it (special status) since 2010.”
The CM also reminded everyone that the hike in reservation wouldn’t have happened had he not taken the initiative.
“It was at my behest that you all agreed to a caste survey, after which quotas for SCs, STs, OBCs and the extremely backward classes were hiked to 65% in govt jobs and educational institutions,” he said.
“Your protest has no meaning. Congress did nothing to make this (increased reservation) happen while in govt.”
The continuing commotion, including opposition members shouting slogans and trooping to the well of the House, led speaker Nand Kishore Yadav to adjourn the proceedings till 2pm.