Allaying fears from a section of opposition parties, union minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot today said the proposed amendment to the constitution would strengthen the Backward Class Commission and provide it more powers.<br/><br/>Speaking at a seminar organised by BJP BC Morcha in Bengaluru, he said the amendment was a long standing demand of the BC community and once it was passed by the Rajya Sabha next Monday, the National Commission for Backward Classes would have powers akin to NCSC and NCST.<br/> <br/>The Constitutional 123 Amendment Bill, 2017, sought to create a new body tentatively named the National Commission For Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (NCSEBC). It was passed in Lok Sabha during April but due to opposition, mainly by the Congress party, it was yet to be passed in Rajya Sabha and it was sent to select committee and the committee submitted its report on 19 July, in which it recommended that the bill be passed.<br/>