State resolution seeks BC quota

The state government on Saturday reintroduced a resolution requesting the Central government to provide 33.33 per cent reservations for Backward Classes including Muslims in the Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies.

The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, introduced the resolution and the House unanimously passed the same.

The late chief minister Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy had moved the same resolution on August 29, 2008 and ensured that it was unanimously accepted in the House.

The House reiterated the recommendation already made earlier as the MIM stalled the proceedings for two days demanding political reservations for Muslims.

Amidst noisy scenes, the House adopted the resolution without any debate. No political party leader was given a chance to speak on the resolution.

The resolution asked the Centre to bring necessary amendment to the Constitution to provide the reservation.

The MIM floor leader, Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi, and his team were hell bent on extending the political reservations to Muslims in the wake of the introduction of Women Reservation Bill in the Parliament.

The MIM argued that the Women Reservation Bill would deprive the community of its place in the legislature.

Govt agrees to discuss price rise in Lok Sabha

The speaker would decide on a short duration discussion on price rise during the ongoing Budget Session in Lok Sabha

Apparently bowing to opposition pressure, Government on Monday agreed to a discussion in the Lok Sabha tomorrow on rising prices, an issue that has brought almost the entire Opposition and some key UPA allies together.

A meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Lok Sabha presided by Speaker Meira Kumar saw the government yielding to the demand in the backdrop of the Opposition threat to move an adjournment motion tomorrow if the government failed to hold a discussion on the issue.

“We have agreed for a short duration discussion and now it is for the Speaker to take a decision,” a minister said.

Noting that the government has agreed to break the convention to take up the price rise issue, he said normally the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address is taken up first.

The government’s move has come close on the heels of top opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, meeting the Speaker and telling her their intention to move an adjournment motion on the issue if the government did not discuss the issue tomorrow.

Besides Ms. Swaraj, those who met the Speaker were CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta, Basudeb Acharia (CPI(M)), Lalu Prasad (RJD) and Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP).

The issue has received support from major UPA partners like Trinamool Congress and DMK, which have also sought a full-fledged debate on price rise.

The Rajya Sabha too is expected to discuss the issue tomorrow with an opposition leader saying that the House would not be allowed to run if the issue was not taken up.

Lathi charge on protesting teachers in U. P

Several agitating State Government employees, including women, were injured when the police resorted to lathi charge to thwart their march towards the Vidhan Sabha here on Thursday. Some policemen were also injured in the clash. The agitation was organised by the joint front of state employees and teachers.

The employees resorted to brick batting and damaged some vehicles and city buses in the police-employees clash near Indira Bhawan on Ashok Marg and in Hazratganj

The employees have been demanding parity in salary structure and allowances with those of the Central Government employees.

According to a police spokesman, the employees had initially planned to stage a dharna and demonstration at Jhule Lal Park but instead of staying there they reached the Hazratganj crossing and blocked the traffic. The spokesman claimed that water cannon was used to disperse the mob following which the police used mild force to stop their movement towards Vidhan Sabha.

A spokesman of the Rajya Karamchari Mahasangh claimed that around 300 employees were injured in the lathicharge.