Maya warns govt on promotion quota bill

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Monday threatened to take a 'tough stand' in upcoming days if the Congress-led United Progressive Government (UPA) government did not pass the SC/ST promotion quota bill.

"The UPA must ensure that there is debate on quota bill in Parliament. We are going to wait and see and if the bill is not passed then we will be forced to take a tough stand," Mayawati told reporters.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day amid ruckus over the issue.

According to reports, Samajwadi Party (SP) members shouted slogans against the bill.

Meanwhile, the all-party meeting called by Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari on the issue failed to break the deadlock, reports said.

Pertinently, the promotion quota bill envisages reservation to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in government job promotions.

Opposing the bill, SP leader Naresh Agarwal told media: "We will oppose it and ask the government to remove disputed issues from the list of business in order to let the House function."

The government said it will try to convince the SP on the bill.

Speaking to media, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said: "The Reservation bill is on the first list in the Rajya Sabha. We will try to convince the SP."