Modi government’s decision of granting reservations in education and employment to economically backward category people belonging to upper castes has become topic of debate across the country. However, the NDA’s decision drew mixed response from people.
Special majority:
The main reason for negative response on this is – as everyone knows this needs constitutional amendment and such amendment requires special majority. Special majority means – at least 2/3rd members attending the house OR 1/2 of strength of the house – whichever is higher, that many number of members need to support the motion. It means, in the Lok Sabha of 544 members, if all are present on the day of voting, 363 members need to support the motion. In case, let’s say, only 400 members attend the house on the day of voting, 2/3rd of attendance comes down to 267 but in that case, 1/2 of total strength of the 544 i.e. 272 members need to support the motion in Lok Sabha. Similar logic needs to be followed in the house of Rajya Sabha. It is very clear that NDA doesn’t have numbers on it’s own and it needs support of other parties. During the season of elections, getting support of other parties also not easy.
What may happen to this bill :
Even if NDA goes ahead and introduces bill in Lok Sabha, where it has better strength compared to Rajya Sabha, and somehow passes the bill, there is no possibility of it to pass in Rajya Sabha. In fact, passing it in Lok Sabha itself is almost impossible. But even if it passes in Lok Sabha, before passing the same in Rajya Sabha, the current Lok Sabha term may expire. So, all the bills passed in Lok Sabha but not yet introduced in Rajya Sabha will lapse. So, fate of this bill be similar to that of women reservation bill and other such bills.
Instead of EBC reservations, Modi govt could have slashed I-T slabs:
What many people are observing after NDA’s decision is – instead of EBC reservations to upper castes, he should have focused on slashing income tax etc. For example, after 2014 elections many people expected Modi to slash income tax up-to 10 lakhs or 20 lakhs and income tax to be applied only for those earning more than that amount. In fact there were rumors regarding this in 2015-16. But, had BJP taken a decision on this regard, it would have given a boost to party among upper middle class voters. Moreover, such change in taxation is executive action and doesn’t need support of any other parties and so doesn’t need any motions to be introduced in the parliament. So, people also might have believed Modi’s decision. Moreover, BJP could have justified this action by reminding GST brought many more people under tax net.
Anyway we will have to wait and see what would be the fate of this bill.
