Despite stiff opposition from parties including outside supporters, the government on Wednesday ruled out any dilution in the Women’s Reservation Bill, which seeks to ensure 33 per cent seats for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.
“There is no question of dilution. It is hypothetical,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal told reporters when asked about the talk of dilution of the Bill by pegging the reservation ceiling to 20 per cent. The Bill is before the Standing committee of Parliament which is soon to be reconstituted and government would await its report.
Replying to a volley of questions on the issue, he said the government woult try and arrive at a consensus on every piece of legislation.
He said President Pratibha Patil had in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament said that the Bill was one of the priority agenda of the government.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who replied to the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in both Houses of Parliament yesterday, remained silent on the issue against the backdrop of parties like JD(U), SP and RJD strongly opposing the Bill in its present form.
These parties allege the measure was intended to keep women of OBC communities outside legislatures. RJD leader Lalu Prasad said it was aimed at finishing regional parties whose role in national politics have grown after Mandalisation of politics in early 1990s.