New Delhi: A confrontation over the issue of
the Women's Reservation Bill appeared imminent in Parliament
with Government planning to take it up next week, triggering a
sharp reaction by its detractors Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu
Prasad with the latter threatening "war".
"Yuddha hoga" (There will be war) declared Lalu Prasad
interjecting in the discussion in the Lok Sabha on the Motion
of thanks to the President for her address.
His warning came even as SP supremo Yadav announced that
his party would oppose tooth and nail the Women's Reservation
Bill and spoke about "uproar" in Parliament.
"At the most you can do is to throw us out (of the House)
and cancel our membership", Yadav said giving ample hints that
those opposed to the measure in its present form would not
take lying down attempts to pass it without amendments.
"The condition of Muslims is worse than that of the SCs
and STs and they (the government) are more worried about the
women's reservation bill," Yadav claimed.
SP and RJD are opposed to the bill in its present form
and want a quota within quota for women from backward classes.
The statements of the two leaders came close on the heels
of Government's announcement that it planned to bring the
bill in the Rajya Sabha on March eight, the International
Women's Day.
The Constitution Amendment bill is being brought in its
present form which envisages 33 per cent reservation for women
in the Lok Sabha and the state Assemblies.
-PTI
First Published: Wednesday, March 03, 2010, 23:53