The Hindu : National : BJP sabotaging Bill: CPI(M)

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Friday, Aug 26, 2005

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BJP sabotaging Bill: CPI(M)

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday charged that the Bharatiya Janata Party's move to withdraw support to any proposal to reserve one third seats for women "as sabotaging'' the United Progressive Alliance Government's move to bring the Bill to Parliament. "It is indeed shocking that the BJP should execute such an about turn when only a few days ago the BJP had made a public commitment to support either of the two proposals to ensure one third seats for women,'' the CPI (M) Polit Bureau said in a statement.

The earlier alternative suggested by a former Chief Election Commissioner, M.S. Gill, of one third reservation in party lists does not serve the purpose of ensuring at least one third women in the elected bodies, it said, adding that the proposal was criticised then even by the BJP.

The party reiterated the demand that the Government bring the original Bill to Parliament which has the support of all partners of the UPA coalition. The issue of reservation within reservation raised by Lalu Prasad of the Rashtriya Janata Dal could be taken up separately as suggested by the select committee headed by Gita Mukhejree, it said.

At a press conference, CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said once the Bill was brought before Parliament, voting on it would determine which parties were for and against.

The party also raised the ongoing struggle of farmers in Rajasthan and demanded that the State Government release all the agitating farmers who have been arrested, negotiation with the agitation committee that has been in the forefront, implement the December 2004 agreement on water sharing and salvage the standing crops.

Mr. Yechury and Hannan Mollah, the party MP who toured the area said the agitating farmers were lodged in jails and condemned the approach of the Vasundhara Raje Government on it.

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