Cong divided, quota Bill won’t make it to House

With most constituent parties of the UPA having already supported the Bill, it is the strife within the Congress that has come as a speed-breaker for the quota move.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has reportedly been seeking inputs on the proposed move from all party colleagues who call on her. A party functionary said, ‘‘each one gives an opinion as per his caste,’’ leaving Sonia totally indecisive. The party is divided between the equally strong pro and anti quota lobbies.

The only decision, however, to be made is if the Bill should be moved right now or in the next session. At the Hyderabad conclave of the party, Sonia had declared that the ‘‘new constitutional amendment will increase access for OBCs to higher education’’. As a follow up of the newly introduced Article 15 (4), the Congress-ruled Maharashtra has already declared reservations in unaided educational institutions.

At the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh firmly told ministers not to talk publicly on the issue. With Union Minister Kapil Sibal obliquely making his opposition public, and Sharad Pawar, P Chidambaram, Laloo Yadav and Ramvilas Paswan coming out in support, the divergent views within the government had become embarrassing.

The Forum of OBC MPs, which is meeting on May 17, will discuss the quota issue and meet the PM, demanding introduction of the Bill. ‘‘We will raise with the PM if the KC has the mandate to oppose a law made by the Parliament,’’ a spokesperson said.

varghese.k.george@expressindia.com