PM silent on Women's Reservation Bill

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today remained silent in Parliament on the contentious Women's Reservation Bill, with its known opponents raising the pitch and one of them even threatening to consume poison in the Lok Sabha if the legislation is passed.

Singh did not mention about the measure and the way the government is going to go about it, either in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, when he replied to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address.

President Pratibha Patil, in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament, had said her government would strive for an early passage of the Women's Reservation Bill providing 33 per cent reservation to women in the state legislature and Parliament.

The controversial bill, which has been included in the 100-day programme of the government, drew criticism from the JD(U), the SP, the RJD and some independent members during the brief session.

JD(U) member Sharad Yadav went to the extent of saying that he would consume poison in the Lok Sabha if the legislation was passed. However, he tried to do a U-turn on the issue later, saying that he had not made such a remark.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad today joined SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav in opposing women's reservation bill in its present form, alleging that it was a "big conspiracy" to prevent the backward sections from coming up and to "finish" the regional parties.

Prasad warned of a major movement if quotas for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs and minorities was not included in the legislation.      Mulayam Singh Yadav had alleged that moves were afoot to prevent progress and development of backward sections and "finish off" leadership in the Lok Sabha.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh (Independent) also spoke of a "deep conspiracy" and alleged that sections in both the ruling Congress and opposition BJP were involved in it. The BJP has assured the government of its support if it tries to pass the legislation.

Kalyan contended that the Women's Reservation Bill in its current form will benefit only "elitist women".

He also sought to create trouble for the BJP-led NDA on the issue asking Sharad Yadav, who is the NDA Convenor, to take initiative to convince the BJP to join them on the issue.

"If your voice is not heard in the NDA and by the BJP, then what is the need for having the alliance," Singh said.

Yadav, who was present in the House, chose not to respond to Singh's comments.