By IANS,
New Delhi : The government should show political will in passing the women’s quota bill in the Lok Sabha, the Communist Party of India-Marxist said Tuesday, a day after an all-party meeting on the issue failed to reach a consensus.
“The government should show political will,” CPI-M MP Brinda Karat said on the government’s decision to hold further discussion on the bill without setting a time frame.
It did not say whether the meeting would be held before the house assembles April 15 after a three-week break.
“All party meeting should not become alibi to send the bill back to cold storage,” Karat told IANS.
The bill providing 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was passed amid uproar in the Rajya Sabha last month. The bill is opposed by the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Lok Janshakti Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and a section of the Janata Dal-United.
The parties opposing the bill want quotas for minorities, Dalits and backward classes within the 33 percent seats reserved for women.
There is apprehension about the future of the bill with the Trinamool Congress, a key ally in the Congress-led ruling coalition, joining the parties demanding quota within quota.