New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) Union minister Arun Jaitley Tuesday made a forceful pitch for the passage of a bill providing 10 per cent quota for the poor among the general category, saying almost every party, including the Congress, had supported the measure in their poll manifesto.

Making an intervention in the Lok Sabha during a debate on the constitutional amendment bill, he rejected suggestions that the measure may fall foul of a Supreme Court judgement putting a cap of 50 per cent.

The bar, he added, is for caste-based reservations, while the bill seeks quota for the economically weaker sections in the general category.

Quoting the Supreme Court judgement, he said, "we are also of the opinion that the rule of 50 per cent applies only to reservation in favour of backward classes made under Article 16(4)."

Attempts were made earlier too by governments at the Centre and states in this regard but failed because they were done either through common statutory provisions or notifications, he said.

Jaitley expressed hope that the Bill will pass the test of the basic structure of the Constitution as it does not seek to alter that.

Clarfiying the point that the law needs ratification of 50 per cent states he said "if you read Article 368 part III, amendement to fundamental rights does not require the approval of states."

Citing example of amendment to Article 15 (5) with regard to promotion, he said, it was only done through Parliament approval.

The Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill 2019 seeks to amend the Constitution by introducing provisions for reservation for economically weaker sections, he said, adding that it presently mentions only social and educational backwardness as the criteria for quota.

"We have to give equality of opportunity to citizens on caste basis and economic basis...just as equal cannot be treated unequally. Unequally cannot be treated equally," he said.

Quoting from the Congress manifesto, which called for such a quota, he asked it to "walk its talk" by supporting the bill, describing it as a test for the opposition party.

With Opposition members using 'jumla' jibe, Jaitley hit back saying if the mention of a similar quota for the general category in their manifestos was a jumla as well.

The BJP in its manifesto also supported the measure and is now working to implement it, he said, adding Constitution makers also spoke about equality of status and opportunity.

Taking a jibe at opposition parties for their protests, he said if they are supporting the bill, they should be whole- hearted and not grudgingly doing it.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)