The Hindu : National : Proposal on women's reservation impractical: BJP

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Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005

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National

Proposal on women's reservation impractical: BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 22. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today appeared lukewarm to the United Progressive Alliance Government's suggestion to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha from 543 to 724 to provide for 33 per cent reservation for women, saying it was "impractical."

However, the party would not be a stumbling block if a consensus was built around the proposal circulated by the Union Home Ministry.

"We are ready for a consensus on the Women's Reservation Bill though we feel that the suggestion of the Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha by 33 per cent in order to give reservation to women is impractical and will turn out to be a long drawn and tedious process," the party spokesperson, Sushma Swaraj, told reporters here.

A meeting of senior leaders, presided over by the party president, L.K. Advani, was held here to discuss the proposal sent by Mr. Patil on the issue of women's reservation in Parliament and the State Legislatures.

"Only 25 p.c. reservation"

Ms. Swaraj said the Government had suggested that the Lok Sabha strength could be increased and a consensus reached on it. The BJP felt that it would amount to a mere 25 per cent reservation for women and would also pose logistical and practical problems. The Government note said that the Lok Sabha sittings could be held in the Central Hall and the Rajya Sabha could be moved to where Lok Sabha has its sittings. The Central Hall could be relocated to the new Library Hall. National executive

As part of its silver jubilee celebrations, the BJP would hold its national executiveand national council here on April 5 and 6. It would mark the launch of programmes every month till the plenary session in Mumbai in December to conclude the silver jubilee year, she said.

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