Heptulla doubtful over passage of Women's reservation bill
Yoshita Singh/PTI / Chicago Jun 23, 2009, 11:53 IST
Voicing skepticism over passage of the long-delayed women's reservation bill in Parliament, BJP leader Najma Heptulla today said it is unlikely that the UPA government will be able to pass it within the promised 100-day timeframe as it still faces opposition from political parties.
The Congress-led UPA government has promised that the bill would be passed within the first 100 days of its tenure but this seems unlikely now, Heptulla told PTI here on the sidelines of a session on 'Indian Elections' organised by Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
"I have my doubts (that the bill will be passed within the 100 days) because within the Congress and other political parties, the men have their reservations against reservation for women. But we will put our pressure on the government to get the bill passed," the former deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha said.
Heptulla, one of the supporters of the bill, said she is "hoping against hope" that the bill would move forward as parties keep coming up with their own demands of ensuring "quota within quota" in the bill.
"Everybody talks about it and promises support but there is difference between speaking and actually implementing what one says," she added.
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