Friday, August 26 2005 14:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Congress and Communist Party of India (CPI) Marxist (M) yesterday (Aug 25, 2005) attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing it of making an U-turn on its stand on reservation of seats in legislatures by pitching for 33 percent nominations for the fair sex but the saffron party stuck to its posture saying it has the support of majority of political parties.

The Congress assault was led by none other than its chief Sonia Gandhi who charged BJP and its allies with 'completely changing their stand' on the bill aimed at women's empowerment.

Addressing the general body meeting of Congress Parliamentary Party, she said there was an agreement between United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and Left parties on the original bill which provides for one third reservation for women within existing strength of Parliament and Assemblies.

Seeking introduction of the women's reservation bill in Parliament in its original form, CPI (M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury said accused BJP of 'sabotaging' the UPA Government's move by going back on its earlier stand of supporting one-third reservation for women.

"It is indeed shocking that the BJP should execute such an about turn when only a few days ago it had made a public commitment to support either of the two proposals to ensure one-third seats for women," he told reporters in New Delhi.

Yechury said this proposal wouldn't serve the purpose

On the suggestion by former Election Commissioner M S Gill that parties should give one-third of its tickets to women, Yechury said this proposal would not serve the purpose of ensuring that women get one-third seats in elected bodies.

"This had even been criticised and rejected by the majority of political parties including the BJP", he said.

"Referring to quota within quota for reservation (for backward classes) raised by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, Yechury said this could be addressed separately as suggested by the Select Committee headed by late CPI leader Gita Mukherjee", he said.

Terming as 'baseless and highly objectionable' the Congress President's allegation that it has done a 'somersault' on the bill, BJP parliamentary party leader V K Malhotra said it now favoured the 'Gill Formula' providing for distribution of 33 per cent tickets to women by political parties as it enjoyed 'majority support'.

"We had assured Home Minister Shivraj Patil that we will support any formula on which the Government evolves a consensus. Her charge at the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting that we have completely changed our stand is totally baseless and highly objectionable", he told reporters.

He said if the Government was unable to evolve a consensus on the issue, it should go in for the 'Gill Formula'.

The BJP leader said already there were demands for quota within quota for Dalits and OBCs in the Government's proposed Bill. "Why should they insist on something that's not practical at all?," he said and demanded the Government introduce the necessary amendment in the present session itself.