New Delhi: Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking action on a request for adequate speaking time for MPs belonging to the SC/ST communities during discussions on important bills…

New Delhi: Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking action on a request for adequate speaking time for MPs belonging to the SC/ST communities during discussions on important bills in Parliament.In his letter, Manjhi said BJP MP Gajendra Singh Patel, who represents Khargone in Madhya Pradesh, had raised the issue during an “NDA MPs Group Dialogue Meeting” held at Manjhi’s Delhi residence on August 5.The minister said Patel had specifically requested that SC/ST MPs be given sufficient opportunity to raise issues concerning their communities on the floor of the House.Manjhi has requested the speaker to take further action on Patel’s request and issue necessary directions to the concerned authorities.Supreme Court rejects plea against 2018 SC/ST Act amendment restoring bail barSpeaking to PTI, Patel confirmed that he has raised the issue and said the time given to SC/ST MPs should be increased further as the time allocated to a political party gets divided among its MPs.”It is not that we do not get time, but we should get more time. More issues concerning SC/ST communities should be raised,” he said.Patel said the issue was about ensuring that matters concerning SC/ST communities receive adequate space during parliamentary discussions, while acknowledging that MPs from these communities do get speaking opportunities.

Source: Deccan Herald