By IANS,
New Delhi: The fate of the landmark women’s quota bill Thursday appeared uncertain as the government, yielding to its critics, offered all-party consultations while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tried to paper over internal opposition to the proposed legislation.
The BJP, a staunch supporter of the bill that seeks to reserve a third of legislative seats in India for women, looked a divided house with a leading MP opposing the quota and threatening to vote even against it in the Lok Sabha. The bill was cleared by the Rajya Sabha Tuesday.
But BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, insisted that all was well in the party even if some members had varying opinions on the proposed legislation.
“All the MPs will support the decision taken by the party leadership. A whip will be issued,” she said after party leader and former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani meet MPs to understand the mood regarding the bill.
Earler in the day, Gorakhpur BJP MP Yogi Adityanath openly declared that quotas for women were “needless” as there were more important issues for the country to tackle and that he would oppose it when it comes up for voting in the Lok Sabha.
The bill briefly stalled proceedings in the Lok Sabha for the fourth day Thursday. But peace returned and normal business was conducted after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee met the three most vocal critics of the bill — Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad and Sharad Yadav – in Parliament House and assured them they would be consulted before the legislation was tabled in the lower house.
Only then did the three – Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Lalu Prasad, Janata Dal-United’s Sharad Yadav and Samajwadi Party’s Mulayam Singh – halted their aggressive and noisy protests over the bill they have refused to accept in its present form.
Mukherjee later told the house: “The government will complete the process of consultations with all concerned. I think this would assuage the feelings of all members.”
After his statement, the house peacefully began a debate on the budget for fiscal 2010-11.
Mukherjee said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh “has pointed out that we will consult you and narrow down the differences before the bill is brought in the Lok Sabha”. With folded hands, he requested the protesting leaders to allow the house to function.
The assurance came after initial protests over the bill led to two adjournments.
In the morning, the Lok Sabha witnessed a clamour on the issue before Speaker Meira Kumar allowed the Yadavs to make brief observations on the bill.
Lalu Prasad described the bill as an onion that will “bring tears to MPs once they peel it off”.
“The constitution is being amended and therefore everyone’s opinion should be taken into account,” the RJD chief said. Mulayam Singh and Sharad Yadav made similar demands.
The bill has angered the parties with a mass base mainly in the Hindi heartland of north India. They are demanding a quota within the quota for Dalit, Muslim and backward caste women.
The bill was cleared by the Rajya Sabha Tuesday and is awaiting a green signal from the Lok Sabha before it becomes a law. However, that may not be so soon as parliament is taking a three-week-long recess beginning Wednesday, and will resume April 12. During the next few days, the houses will be discussing finance and budget bills.