Obc Mps To Stall Womens Bill Debate

UF meet to discuss dilution

Nearly 20 backward class MPs from various parties yesterday decided to work towards stalling any consideration of the womens reservation bill until a provision catering to women from the other backward classes were included. They are likely to disrupt proceedings when the bill is taken up for debate before August 14.

Meanwhile, todays meeting of the United Fronts steering committee is likely to discuss the possibility of diluting the percentage of reservation from 33 to 15 or 20 with a view of enlisting the support of those who are strongly against the bill. Even though the Left parties are against any dilution, Front leaders are confident of persuading them to agree to it.

The backward class MPs demanded that a meeting be convened of the United Front parliamentary party in order to thrash out the issue. An MP who attended the meeting said this was basically a ploy to ensure that the bill is not taken up for consideration at all, neither in the current session nor at a later stage.

The meeting, convened at the initiative of Janata Dal MP Kodandaramiah, also decided that the MPs would press for an amendment to the bill which would make parties give a certain percentage of seats for women in elections. Nitish Kumar (Samata Party), who attended the meeting, said he was of the view that the OBC MPs should not outright reject the demand for reservation of seats for women but should work for improvement of the present measure. Most of the 20 MPs present at the meeting included those belonging to the Janata Dal, RJD, Samajwadi Party, DMK and the Telugu Desam, who are opposed to the passing of the bill in its present form.

Congress president Sitaram Kesri recently favoured a 15 to 20 percentage reservation instead of 33, a proposal which set the ball rolling in the United Front. Seeking a dilution in the percentage, Prime Minister IK Gujral communicated his views to all MPs through Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma. A senior Front leader said some dilution is necessary, and even in its diluted form it could send strong signals. Since the bill is a constitution amendment bill, it has to be passed by a two-thirds majority and subsequent ratification is required from eight state assemblies.

The ruling coalition is finding it difficult to muster enough support for its passage.