Uproar over vacancies in minority panels

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 27

The morning session of the Rajya Sabha, including Question Hour, remained disrupted today after the Congress-led Opposition created uproar over delay in filling vacancies in statutory commissions for SCs, STs and OBCs.

The House faced adjournments in quick succession after Congress’ Narendra Budania raised the issue of long-pending vacancies in constitutional panels. Members of the Samajwadi Party, JD-U and BSP also joined the issue after the Congress members trooped into the Well of the House, raising anti-government slogans and forcing Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien to adjourn the proceedings.

Budania, who raised the issue of vacant post of Chairman and all five members in the National Commission of Minorities, alleged the Constitutional authority was being systematically weakened through a “a well-thought out strategy”, a trend “dangerous” for the democracy.

He also wondered whether the BJP-led government was giving a subtle message about the fate of the commission.