Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has said that the bill for providing Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, SCs and STs quota in promotion in government jobs will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha today for consideration and passage. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr. Bansal said, he has also requested the BJP to let the House function. He said, the government is ready for a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the bill if the opposition demands. Mr. Bansal said, if the bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha today, it will come up before the Lok Sabha tomorrow.

Law Minister Salman Khurshid said that the government wants the bill to be passed in the Rajya Sabha today itself.

Meanwhile BJP has issued whip to its members to be present in Parliament. This was confirmed by the party sources in New Delhi.

The Union Cabinet yesterday approved the proposed bill to amend the Constitution to provide reservation to Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes, SCs and STs in government job promotions.AIR correspondent reports that the constitutional amendment bill requires two third majority of the members present in the House for its passage.

The proposed Bill seeks to amend at least four articles of the Constitution to enable the government to provide quota in promotions to SC/STs. It seeks to remove the term inadequate representation, mentioned in Article 16(4) to justify reservation in promotion and appointments, and also delink the term efficiency of administration from the claims of SCs/STs for jobs and promotions, mentioned in Article 335. Changes are also likely to be made in articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution, following the advice of the Attorney General, G.E. Vahanvati on the issue.

Welcoming the Cabinet decision, Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati appealed to the UPA government and the BJP-led NDA to put aside their differences over Coal allocation issue so that the Bill can be passed in the current session of Parliament.

The Samajwadi Party said that it will oppose the Bill in Parliament. Talking to media, Senior Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav accused the ruling UPA of resorting to politically motivated

decisions.Pointing that the Bill to provide quota for SCs and STs, in promotions lacked consensus, Mr Yadav said it had a political hue to it and had even been rejected by the apex court.