New Delhi:
The Congress-led UPA government finds itself in a spot. Set to table and get the Women's Reservation Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha, it now has to contend with the threat of withdrawal of support from two traditional opponents of the Bill - the Samajwadi Party and the RJD.
Both parties have announced they are withdrawing support to the UPA government over the Bill. While the government does not need their support to pass this Bill, since the BJP and the Left will vote in favour, it will find itself on an uncomfortable, wafer-thin majority for other legislation, like the crucial Finance Bill, without the buffer of the 22 Samajwadi Party MPs and 4 RJD MPs in the Lok Sabha. (Read: Why Lalu-Mulayam exit worries government)
Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Yadav have said they oppose the Women's Bill because it does not protect the interests of minorities and Other Backward Castes.
The bill reserves 33% seats for women in Parliament and in state assemblies.
"Reservation should be for Muslims and Dalits," said Mulayam Singh Yadav.
"The government is trying to force the bill upon us. The Congress does not listen to anyone. The bill must bring the Asli Bharat forward...the Congress is leaving women and Muslims behind, " said Lalu.
The government is in a huddle right now on what next steps should be. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is holding meetings with senior colleagues like Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Parliamentary Affairs Minsiter PK Bansal to evolve a strategy.
Not to press ahead with the Women's Bill today will mean a big loss of face, especially given that the Bill is close to Congress President Sonia Gandhi's heart and the many statements that she and other Congress leaders and ministers have already made. But the party cannot risk Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav actually carrying out their threat and officially withdrawing support.
Along with the BSP, the two parties have already ensured that Parliament proceedings are anything but smooth. As Lok Sabha opened in the morning, Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh rushed to the Well of the House.
In the Rajya Sabha too, the SP and RJD disrupted Question Hour. Here they demanded the implementation of the Ranganath Mishra Commission report first. (Read: Chaos in Parliament over Women's Bill)
Both Houses reconvened at noon only to be adjourned again.
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Women's Bill: The Sharad vs Nitish confusion
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Both parties have announced they are withdrawing support to the UPA government over the Bill. While the government does not need their support to pass this Bill, since the BJP and the Left will vote in favour, it will find itself on an uncomfortable, wafer-thin majority for other legislation, like the crucial Finance Bill, without the buffer of the 22 Samajwadi Party MPs and 4 RJD MPs in the Lok Sabha. (Read: Why Lalu-Mulayam exit worries government)
Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Yadav have said they oppose the Women's Bill because it does not protect the interests of minorities and Other Backward Castes.
The bill reserves 33% seats for women in Parliament and in state assemblies.
"Reservation should be for Muslims and Dalits," said Mulayam Singh Yadav.
"The government is trying to force the bill upon us. The Congress does not listen to anyone. The bill must bring the Asli Bharat forward...the Congress is leaving women and Muslims behind, " said Lalu.
The government is in a huddle right now on what next steps should be. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is holding meetings with senior colleagues like Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Parliamentary Affairs Minsiter PK Bansal to evolve a strategy.
Not to press ahead with the Women's Bill today will mean a big loss of face, especially given that the Bill is close to Congress President Sonia Gandhi's heart and the many statements that she and other Congress leaders and ministers have already made. But the party cannot risk Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav actually carrying out their threat and officially withdrawing support.
Along with the BSP, the two parties have already ensured that Parliament proceedings are anything but smooth. As Lok Sabha opened in the morning, Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh rushed to the Well of the House.
In the Rajya Sabha too, the SP and RJD disrupted Question Hour. Here they demanded the implementation of the Ranganath Mishra Commission report first. (Read: Chaos in Parliament over Women's Bill)
Both Houses reconvened at noon only to be adjourned again.
ALSO READ:
Women's Bill: The Sharad vs Nitish confusion
Law Minister: How can I forget my mother
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