Union cabinet yesterday refrained from taking up the issue of womens reservation in Lok Sabha and state assemblies in view of the difference of opinion in the ruling Janata Dal and some other United Front constituents on the issue.
The Janata Dal has decided to support the proposed one-third reservation only if there is a separate quota for other backward caste (OBC) and Muslim women.
The Janata Dal national council constituted a three-member committee headed by party president Sharad Yadav to work out modalities on the issue.
More From This Section
Some United Front leaders said that the government was finding it difficult to convince many of the constituents of the ruling coalition. Apart from the Left parties, other UF constituents are undecided on the issue.
UF leaders also argue that the government is unlikely to take any important decisions before the AIIC session which is due to begin on August 8. A cabinet minister said that even though the bill would be taken up for discussion on August 11, it is unlikely to be passed.
In view of the pressure from some women MPs and leading womens organisations to get the bill passed, Prime Minister IK Gujral is reported to have proposed to MPs that a reduction of quota from 33 to 20-25 per cent could be considered.
Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangama is also of the view that a reduced quota will pave the way for its smooth passage in the Parliament.
However, leaders of womens seven organisations are likely to meet Sangama to impress upon him not to reduce the quota. A woman MP said: We are not begging. We want that womens participation in political process should go up. We cannot be bribed by the promise that once the percentage of the quota goes down, the bill will be passed.
The Left parties are also of the view that the quota for womens reservation should not be reduced. We will oppose any dilution of womens quota, CPI (M) politbureau member S Ramachandran Pillai said.