Friday, August 26 2005 16:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Maintaining that consensus would continue to elude the Women's Reservation Bill, the Communist Party- Marxist (CPI-M) today (Aug 26, 2005) insisted that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government should bring forward the Bill in its original form.

CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat told a press meet here that efforts seeking to forge a consensus would only delay the process and it (consensus) won't come. "The Bill is being sabotaged again and again in the name of consensus," he said.

He said that the UPA Government should exhibit political will and boldly bring forward the original bill, which was first introduced in 1996. According to him, if the Bill were brought forward in its original form, it would muster two-third of majority -- even three-fourth -- in Parliament.

Karat criticised the BJP for suggesting implementation of an Election Commission proposal of earmarking 33 per cent tickets for women to contest polls, saying such a proposal would not serve the purpose and political parties would not give women "best (winning) seats."

Terming BJP's change in its stand as "surprising" and a "somersault" on the part of that party, he said the main opposition party should explain its position.