Monday, August 22 2005 19:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With major United Progressive Alliance (UPA) constituent Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and outside supporters Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) pitching for quota for SC, ST and OBC women, consensus continued to elude the Women's Reservation Bill, which is unlikely to see the light of the day during the current session of Parliament.

A two-and-a-half hour meeting of UPA constituents and supporting parties, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, failed to produce a consensus on the much-publicised Bill, which seeks to earmark 33 per cent seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for women.

Leaders of Left parties, attended the meeting RJD, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), SP, BSP, Dravida Munnetra Khazhagam (DMK) and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad were also present.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, RJD supremo and Union Minister Lalu Prasad said if the Bill in its original form was introduced, then a separate quota should be earmarked for Muslims, SC, ST and OBC women.

Otherwise, he favoured only ten per cent, or maximum 15 per cent, quota for women irrespective of the category to which they belonged.

Observing that RJD was committed to social justice, Prasad said whether it was old or new Bill, his party was not against the women's reservation legislation.

'It would hamper development work'

Samajwadi Party leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav opposed rotation of seats saying it would 'hamper' development work, as members may not take interest in their constituencies.

On the provision for 33 per cent reservation, he said it was against democratic norms and cited instances of countries like the US and the UK where there was no reservation.

He said since seats are already reserved for SC and ST, earmarking additional 33 per cent for women would affect the other sections of the society.

"This will be unfair," he said and favoured that parties should be asked to leave ten per cent seats for women while distributing tickets.

To a question, he said SP would oppose the Bill if the Government went ahead with the measure.

Echoing similar views, BSP supremo Mayawati said her party was not against reservation for women but demanded quota for SC, ST and OBC women within the reservation.

LJP President and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said he was in favour of 33 per cent reservation and felt that if a sub-quota could be introduced for OBC, ST and SC women it would be welcome.

"But, the Bill should not be stopped."

Except RJD and SP,other parties support the original legislation

Communist Party of India (CPI) Marxist (M )leader Brinda Karat said except RJD and SP all other parties supported the original legislation.

"We have left it to the Government as to which form it wants to bring in the Bill," she said adding that her party wanted the measure to be passed without any further delay.

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said his party supported the first Bill and at the same time made it clear that it would not stand in the way of passing the second Bill, which seeks to raise the number of seats to accommodate women, if there was consensus on it.

Republican Party of India (RPI) leader R S Gavai said there was no need for consensus and the Government should come forward and pass the bill.

Congress leader Ambika Soni said today's meeting was part of the ongoing exercise to evolve a consensus and added that discussions were held 'freely and frankly'.

Asked whether the Bill would be introduced in the current session, she said there was no decision on it. But, the discussions would definitely help the Prime Minister to firm up his views on the landmark legislation, she added.