Bangalore: Union Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today (Aug 12, 2004) said he would ensure that a Bill for SC/ST reservation in the private sector was placed in the coming session of Parliament.

Addressing the National Convention of SC/ST Parishad marking the 'B R Ambedkar Jayanthi Celebrations' in Bangalore, Paswan said the draft for the Bill had been there since 1989, and it had to be placed in Parliament. "We will ensure the Bill is passed in the Parliament and entered in the Ninth schedule of the Constitution," he said.

Paswan, also the Fertilisers and Chemicals Minister, said the reservation was essential as most of the Government jobs had gone to the private sector.

He said the industrialists had raised money from the Government institutions to set up their units and "there was nobody above the constitution".

Paswan said that they should fight within the Parliament and outside it for the Bill to be passed.

He said the present reservation policy in the Government was through a Government order and there 'is no punitive clause for violators, hence an Act is necessary'.

"I will call a meeting of all SC/ST Parliamentarians and legislators to unite them on this issue. I don't think anyone would object. Even former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had indicated support for private sector reservation. Some industrialists have also supported the move," Paswan, head of the Jan Lok Shakti party, said.