Women quota Bill

Political parties fail to reach consensus:

R. Vasudevan, New Delhi

An all-party meeting held in New Delhi on Monday failed to reach a consensus on the Women's Reservation Bill with the Yadav trio sticking to their demand for quota within quota and UPA ally Trinamool Congress joining in chorus with them.

After two hours of intense deliberations, it was decided that more discussions would be held on the issue, triggering questions whether the bill could be introduced in Lok Sabha in the second half of the Budget Session as planned, beginning on April 15.

The bill, a constitutional amendment legislation requiring two-third majority support, has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee held discussions with leaders of Samajwadi Party, RJD, JD(U), the parties which have been stoutly opposing the bill that provides for 33 percent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and Assemblies. Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), Lalu Prasad Yadav (RJD) and Sharad Yadav (Janata Dal-United).

Leaders of BJP, CPI(M), CPI, TDP, which are supporting the proposed legislation, also attended the meeting along with UPA allies Trinamool Congress and DMK.

On the Government's side, Mukherjee was joined by Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K. Bansal, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Defence Minister A K Antony and Law Minister Veerappa Moily.

A brief statement issued by the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry said, "further discussions will continue."

Emerging from the meeting, RJD chief Lalu Prasad said any kind of reservation for women should include Muslims, backward classes and dalits. 'There is no question of going back on our position,' he told reporters. At the meeting, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee echoed the argument of RJD, SP and JD(U) as she emphasized that Muslim interest should not be ignored.

BSP also pressed for quota within quota, failing which it would oppose the bill. It was clear the regional parties are using the minority card to fight the women's quota bill to reap political harvest at the time of the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

The views expressed at the meeting would be conveyed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after which a decision would be taken on timing for further consultations.

With regard to demands for quota within quota, CPI(M leader Basudeb Acharia said the Government should come forward with a proposal on how this could be done 'as under the Constitutional set up, there is no provision of reservation in election either for OBC or Muslim minorities. To a question, he replied that his party was not opposed to it and 'if a proposal comes then it can be considered." At the same time, he said his party favoured passing of the bill in its present form as it has already been cleared in Rajya Sabha.

Gurudas Dasgupta of CPI said his party 'does not mind if the Government takes time to arrive at a consensus but it will not support any kind of deferment if the intention is to dump the bill."

Opposition Leader Sushma Swaraj, while pitching for consensus on the issue, said BJP was 'totally against quota within quota." She, however, said her party would support any proposal for reservation as per the formula prescribed by M.S. Gill as Chief Election Commissioner which would make it binding on political parties to give quota to women in ticket distribution.

Earlier, Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal had said they would oppose the Women's Reservation Bill in its present form at the all-party meeting and stick to their demand for quota for Muslim women and backward classes.

Lalu Yadav said that the Bill envisaged rotation of the seats reserved for women and it is possible that in a House with 543 seats, women will fight in over 181 seats.

- Asian Tribune