Other States - Uttar Pradesh   

‘Women’s Bill may see new party line-up’

Photo: Subir Roy

Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh surrounded by party workers in Lucknow on Wednesday.

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh on Wednesday indicated that the United Progressive Alliance Government’s obduracy over carrying through the Women’s Reservation Bill in its present form would lead to a realignment of political forces ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha elections.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, who remained evasive over the possibility of a pre-poll tie-up with the Congress, said if amendments are not made to the Bill he along with Railway Minister Lalu Prasad of Rashtriya Janata Dal and Sharad Yadav of Janata Dal (United) would mobilise public opinion against the legislation.

Organising a joint rally was one of the options mooted by the Samajwadi president. He emphasised that the SP is not against reservation for women but is opposed to the Bill.

The purpose of building up public opinion was to draw attention towards the “hidden” agenda which was aimed at depriving the poor and downtrodden women their participatory share in the political process, Mr. Singh said.

Reiterating his opposition to 33 per cent reservation for women, he said if the Bill was passed in its present form only women from well-to-do families would be chosen as elected representatives. Demanding withdrawal of the Bill in its present form, the SP chief said instead of 33 per cent, 15 per cent reservation should be made for women and the power to decide on the quota should be vested in the political parties.

Demanding that the rotation system be scrapped, he said the Bill should be amended to include separate reservation for OBC, SC, Muslim, Sikh and Christian women.

He said the consequences of the measure would be detrimental for parliamentary democracy.

There was already a provision of 22 per cent quota for Scheduled Castes/Tribes and if 33 per cent reservation proposed for women was added it would become 55 per cent. The remaining 45 per cent would be left for OBCs, Muslims and the Upper Castes. Mr. Singh expressed apprehension that male elected representatives would be gradually reduced to a minority in the House.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Charges against Mayawati baseless: BSP
‘Women’s Bill may see new party line-up’

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu