UPA managers say cooling of tempers, passage of Budget are bigger priorities.
Given what happened in the Rajya Sabha for passing the Women’s Reservation Bill, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government would rather wait a bit before pushing it in the Lok Sabha.
The reason: for government managers, the UPA’s financial agenda—the constitutional requirements relating to the General and Railway Budget — is priority, above all the other business. A senior minister told Business Standard that in this already surcharged political environment, the government would not further provoke the allies-turned-opponents before passing its financial obligations of 2010-11.
The BJP had already assured the Congress-led government that it would not try to take advantage of the situation but co-operate with the government to pass the Finance Bill 2010 and other appropriation bills related to the Budget. With this support, the Congress-led UPA can easily pass the financial items. But, it is opting for a more cautious approach towards restive supporters like the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). SP, RJD and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are providing outside support to the second UPA government; they are also angry at the passage of the Women’s Bill in its present form.
Before the Finance Bill 2010, several demands for grants related to various ministries are in the pipeline. Discussions on these are to start soon.
Passing the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha is the next step towards its enactment. After passing in both Houses, the bill will be sent to the President for her approval. Once the President signs, it becomes an Act. Its implementation depends on the date of notification by the government.
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The political temperature is already high: the SP, RJD, BSP and JD(U) have fiercely opposed the bill. UPA managers say pushignthe bill right now may not be plitically wise. It would further ruffle feathers and make the government appear “more aggressive than required”.
Trinamool Congress, the key ally, also expressed reservation about the method adopted today by the government to push the bill. Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee clearly said, “After the Sachar committee and Ranganath Misra committee report, it is clear that there are genuine concerns relating to the welfare of minorities. And, I am not in favour of forcible passage of any legislation. I have conveyed to the Prime Minister that the government must hold talks with allies and try to build a consensus.”
JD(U) president Sharad Yadav met Banerjee and later told reporters that she had promised to also abstain from the Lok Sabha voting on the Women’s Bill when it was moved there. Trinamool had abstained from the Rajya Sabha voting.
Till Tuesday evening, the government had not given any indication to the Left parties or the BJP—the two key supports of the Women’s Bill—as to when it planned to bring it in the Lok Sabha.