Allahabad, May 19: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptullah today suggested amendment in the Representation of the Peoples Act to incorporate 33 per cent reservation of seats for women in Parliament and assembly elections if political parties continued their opposition to the Constitution Amendment bill in this regard. "If enactment of a legislation was not possible due to opposition to the bill by certain political parties, the government should suitably amend the People's Representation Act incorporating reservation of 33 per cent seats for women in Parliament", Heptullah, who is here to participate in a two-day workshop on the empowerment of women, told reporters.

To a question whether the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal were justified in blocking the bill by demanding reservation for the women of OBC and SC/ST, the senior Congress leader said she had no (no) objection to the demand for sub-reservation in the Women's Reservation Bill.

However, Heptullah said the issue could be discussed and implemented even after the passage of the original bill.
Bureau Report