All-party Meet Fails to Arrive at Consensus on Women Bill

With some parties adamant on quota within quota, the all-party meeting on Women’s Reservation Bill has failed to arrive at a consensus, said media reports.

The meeting was convened by the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in an attempt to build a consensus on the bill.

The meeting could convince RJD chief Lalu to backtrack from his demand of a quota from women from Muslims, Dalits and other backward castes in the legislation, said reports.

“I thank the government for this all-party meeting. But Muslim and backward and Dalit women must be given quota. Our stand has not changed. We have requested the government to rethink the issue and call for a second meeting ,” Lalu was quoted as saying after the meeting.
Earlier in the morning, he, along with SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, had said that he would continue to oppose the bill as long as their demands were fulfilled.

Initially against the bill, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said after the meeting that the interest of minorities would be looked at, reports said.

Even JDU President Sharad Yadav has been insisting on a quota within quota, though JDU leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has supported the bill.

The Congress-led UPA is hoping to introduce the bill in the Lok Sabha when Parliament reconvenes on April 15.

UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi is adamant that the bill be passed in its present form.

Rajya Sabha had last month passed the Constitution amendment bill providing for 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

(Based on internet reports)