RJD rejects 'curtailed' women's quota
The Manmohan Singh govt’s efforts to hammer out a consensus over the Women’s Reservation Bill by attempting to reduce the quantum from the proposed level of 33% to a more acceptable 20-25%, without any sub-quota for the OBCs.
By ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: The Manmohan Singh government���s efforts to hammer out a consensus over the Women���s Reservation Bill by attempting to reduce the quantum from the proposed level of 33% to a more acceptable 20-25%, without any sub-quota for the OBCs, has hit a roadblock with the RJD rejecting the new formula.
The RJD, which sees itself as a strong votary of social justice, made it clear that there was no dilution in its stand on the contentious bill. "We remain firm on our stand. There will be no compromise with the government without the OBC, minority, SC/ST sub-quota," former Union minister and RJD���s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Devendra Prasad Yadav, said.
A strong and vocal opponent of the Women���s Reservation Bill in its existing form, Mr Yadav is his party���s representative on the standing committee which is examining the bill. The RJD leader also claimed that neither he nor any of his party colleagues had been sounded out about the new proposal aimed at breaking the long-standing impasse over the provisions of the bill.
"It���s just a gimmick. There has been no consultation with us. If at all they have come up with a new formula, they should bring it before the standing committee," the former Union minister said.
The RJD���s refusal to back the government���s initiative spells trouble for the bill, which has been in limbo for over a decade now because of the veto of the quota enthusiasts. Parties such as the Samajwadi Party, PMK, the JD(U), besides the RJD, have been rooting for a quota-within-quota regime to accommodate the OBCs, minorities and the SC/STs.
The first two meetings of the standing committee have seen the pro-bill lobby, comprising Brinda Karat (CPM), Najma Heptulla (BJP) and Prabha Thakur (Congress), locking horns with the quota-within-quota votaries. With the RJD and the SP holding firm, hopes of any forward movement on empowering women have receded considerably. With elections to the Lok Sabha less than year away, the two sides are unlikely to cede any ground.
"The government is trying to send a wrong message. We also have to face the electorate. There���ll be no compromise on our commitment to social justice," Mr Yadav asserted. The entire proposal to set aside 33% seats in the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies without a sub-quota for weaker sections, he claimed, was unconstitutional. "Women as a whole, after all, are not a homogeneous lot," the RJD leader said.
The RJD, which sees itself as a strong votary of social justice, made it clear that there was no dilution in its stand on the contentious bill. "We remain firm on our stand. There will be no compromise with the government without the OBC, minority, SC/ST sub-quota," former Union minister and RJD���s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Devendra Prasad Yadav, said.
A strong and vocal opponent of the Women���s Reservation Bill in its existing form, Mr Yadav is his party���s representative on the standing committee which is examining the bill. The RJD leader also claimed that neither he nor any of his party colleagues had been sounded out about the new proposal aimed at breaking the long-standing impasse over the provisions of the bill.
"It���s just a gimmick. There has been no consultation with us. If at all they have come up with a new formula, they should bring it before the standing committee," the former Union minister said.
The RJD���s refusal to back the government���s initiative spells trouble for the bill, which has been in limbo for over a decade now because of the veto of the quota enthusiasts. Parties such as the Samajwadi Party, PMK, the JD(U), besides the RJD, have been rooting for a quota-within-quota regime to accommodate the OBCs, minorities and the SC/STs.
The first two meetings of the standing committee have seen the pro-bill lobby, comprising Brinda Karat (CPM), Najma Heptulla (BJP) and Prabha Thakur (Congress), locking horns with the quota-within-quota votaries. With the RJD and the SP holding firm, hopes of any forward movement on empowering women have receded considerably. With elections to the Lok Sabha less than year away, the two sides are unlikely to cede any ground.
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"The government is trying to send a wrong message. We also have to face the electorate. There���ll be no compromise on our commitment to social justice," Mr Yadav asserted. The entire proposal to set aside 33% seats in the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies without a sub-quota for weaker sections, he claimed, was unconstitutional. "Women as a whole, after all, are not a homogeneous lot," the RJD leader said.
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