By IANS,
New Delhi: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Sunday issued a whip to its party MPs in the Rajya Sabha to vote against the women’s reservation bill being taken up in the house Monday.
RJD leader and party whip Rajniti Prasad said the party MPs will oppose the bill and vote against it.
“A whip has been issued to party MPs to remain present in the house Monday and vote against the bill,” Prasad told IANS.
The RJD has four members in the Rajya Sabha.
He said the Congress had “betrayed” his party by rejecting its demand for providing quota to backward classes and minorities in the 33 percent quota for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures.
He said party supremo Lalu Prasad was the staunchest ally of the Congress in the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government but his demands on the women reservation bill had been overlooked.
The RJD leader said the party could also sever its ties with the Congress.
“The bill will only benefit women from affluent backgrounds. Poor women and those hailing from backward classes will not be benefited,” Prasad said.