New Delhi: Political analyst Zainab Sikander has expressed concern over Union Cabinet's approval on Wednesday to abolish the constitutional provisions guaranteeing reservation of two Anglo-Indian seats in the lower house of the Parliament.
Talking over the issues, Zainab told ETV Bharat, "There is hardly any representation of the Anglo-Indians in the Parliament. So, to speak they are also a minority. I think it is necessary as they are part of India and also part of the history of India. And, taking them out of Parliament even if they have two seats. Otherwise how well they will be represented."
While Modi administration nominated two members of the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha during their first tenure, however, there have been no nominations yet for the second term and reportedly the provisions for reservation for members of the Anglo-Indian community have been done away with “for the time being”.
The decision was taken by a government's panel after drawing a conclusion that they are doing well and don't need representation.
The panel included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Social Justice Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot decided on the move.
The representation rights for Anglo-Indian's in the Parliament was acquired by Frank Anthony who was the chairman of the All India Anglo-Indian community during former PM Jawahar Lal Nehru's tenure. This provision has been part since the Indian constitution came into effect.
It is explicitly laid in the Indian constitution that 84 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 47 seats for Scheduled Tribes out of total 543 seats in Lok Sabha. It is the President of India who nominates two members of the Anglo-Indian community.
According to the Ministry of Law and Justice, Article 334 of the Constitution lays down that the provisions of the Constitution relating to the reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the representation of the Anglo-Indian community by nomination in the Lok Sabha and in the Legislative Assemblies shall cease to have effect on the expiration of a period of thirty years from the commencement of Constitution.
Although the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes have made considerable progress in the last thirty years, the reasons which weighed with the Constituent Assembly in making provisions with regard to the aforesaid reservation of seats and nomination of members, have not ceased to exist.
It is, therefore, proposed to continue the reservation for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the representation of Anglo-Indians by the nomination for a further period of ten years.
Also Read: PM Modi extends wishes to Indian forces on Armed Forces Flag Day
