New Delhi, Aug 06: Rejecting criticism that it was against reservation for women, Samajwadi Party today said it was opposed to the Women's Reservation Bill in its present form and wanted parties to accept its president Mulayam Singh Yadav's proposal that they reserve seats for women while giving tickets in election. "Samajwadi Party is tarred as anti-women though we have given sufficient representation to the fair sex in the Uttar Pradesh state legislature and Lok Sabha even without the bill," party spokesman Amar Singh told reporters after a meeting of the women's wing of the party.
Stating that Samajwadi Party was totally opposed to the bill in its present form and not against reservation for women, he demanded that all political parties should accept Yadav's suggestion for earmarking a certain number of seats for women while distributing tickets at the time of election.
A resolution adopted at the meeting said that a memorandum would be submitted to President A P J Abdul Kalam soon demanding reservation for women "in practicable proportion".
Replying to a question, Samajwadi Party women's wing leader Ranjana Vajpayee described Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati as anti-women and anti-Dalit.
The party supremo, who joined the press conference towards its end, said Samajwadi Party had not so far taken any stand on Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's suggestion for synchronising assembly and Lok Sabha polls. "We will take a decision at the party's national executive meeting," he added.
Bureau Report