PANAJI
In what could lead to major disappointment to the Schedule Tribe community in Goa, the crucial Bill seeking political reservation for STs in the State Assembly could not be passed in the Parliament, due to adjournment of both the Houses -- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha -- following ruckus by the Opposition. The Bill had come up for discussion on December 17.
Following the row over the Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Dr B R Ambedkar, the Opposition disrupted the proceedings for two consecutive days, with the Speaker adjourning the sessions. With just a day left for the Parliament session to conclude, the Bill will now be taken up only during the Budget session.
The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024, after passing in the Lok Sabha, was supposed to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on December 19, for discussion and passing.
Speaking to The Goan, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade confirmed that the Bill could not be passed in Lok Sabha due to the ruckus caused by the Opposition. “After Lok Sabha passes the Bill, it would be tabled in Rajya Sabha. But, with just a day to go for the Parliament to conclude, it looks impossible. Now it may come up in the Budget session,” he said.
Tanavade further said, “the Opposition deliberately did not allow smooth proceedings of the House, which is why not only this crucial ST Bill but even smaller issues were not discussed”.
The Bill was introduced during the last session of the Lok Sabha by the Union Ministry for Law and Justice.
Within minutes of beginning proceedings on Wednesday as well as on Thursday morning, both houses of Parliament were adjourned over the Opposition’s charge that Home Minister had insulted Dr B R Ambedkar in his Rajya Sabha speech.
At present, the Goa Assembly has 40 seats with no reservation to STs. The number of seats to be reserved will be based on the ST population in the State.
Political reservation for STs is a long pending demand of the community, who had, earlier this year, launched a State wide protest pressing for their demand.
According to the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, three to four seats could be reserved for STs based on the population. The government is hopeful to reserve seats for STs in the upcoming 2027 polls.
