RJD chief Lalu Prasad said he would hand over to the President on Wednesday a letter withdrawing support to the UPA government over the issue of Women’s Reservation Bill while SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav remained non-committal on the issue.
Lalu told reporters that despite request by Yadav and himself to the Prime Minister during their meeting on Tuesday morning, the government went ahead with voting on the bill — which seeks to provide for 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State assemblies — in the Rajya Sabha.
“I will hand over the letter to the President withdrawing support tomorrow,” Lalu said.
The SP chief, who was also present, attacked the government for “forcing the bill in Rajya Sabha” but did not say in certain terms when he would hand over the letter withdrawing support to the President.
“I have already announced withdrawing support. We will let you know when we write the letter,” he said.
When asked whether it was the CBI cases against him, which were forcing him not to officially withdraw support, Yadav did not answer and left in a huff.
Showing posts with label SP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SP. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Manmohan to meet Lalu, Mulayam
Driven up the wall on the Women's Reservation Bill, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party on Monday said they would withdraw support to the United Progressive Alliance government if the law was passed its present form.
Both RJD chief Lalu Prasad and SP supremo Mulayam Singh called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convey their decision and concern over the stand taken by the UPA government. Soon after, the Prime Minister hurriedly met leaders belonging to the Bahujan Samaj Party, arch-rival of the SP.
Dr. Singh is said to have decided to meet Mr. Prasad, Mr. Singh and Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav, who too is waging a war on the issue separately, ahead of Tuesday's all-party meeting in an obvious bid to placate them well aware that withdrawal of support could pose problems to his government.
Later in the evening, Mr. Prasad called on President Pratibha Patil to explain the party's opposition to the Bill.
Mr. Prasad and Mr. Yadav jointly declared their intention to withdraw support to the government. Both said the Congress was behaving autocratically and sought to ride roughshod over them.
The RJD has four members and the SP 21 in the Lok Sabha and both parties had given the President letters of their unilateral support to the government. They were not part of the list submitted by Dr. Singh while staking claim to form the government.
Together the RJD and the SP have 15 members in the Rajya Sabha, where the Congress is already in a minority and this shortfall will only make floor management a difficult proposition should the Opposition press for a division on routine affairs.
Both Mr. Prasad and Mr. Singh stressed that they could reconsider their decision only if the government accommodated their view and effected amendments in the Bill allowing for sub-reservation for women belonging to the deprived sections.
Acting in tandem, these two leaders charged that the Prime Minister had not cared to heed their request to convene an all-party meeting to build consensus. Asked if they intended formalising their decision by calling on the President, the RJD chief asked: “Isn't my public proclamation sufficient?”
Mr. Prasad was particularly severe, charging that the UPA's action to deny reservation to women from Dalits, backward classes and minorities amounted to “political dacoity.”
Notwithstanding the decision of these two parties, Dr. Singh discussed the fallout with senior colleagues.
Should they formally withdraw support, the UPA will be left with about 290 members in the 543-member Lok Sabha, just a tad above the half-way mark.
Both RJD chief Lalu Prasad and SP supremo Mulayam Singh called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convey their decision and concern over the stand taken by the UPA government. Soon after, the Prime Minister hurriedly met leaders belonging to the Bahujan Samaj Party, arch-rival of the SP.
Dr. Singh is said to have decided to meet Mr. Prasad, Mr. Singh and Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav, who too is waging a war on the issue separately, ahead of Tuesday's all-party meeting in an obvious bid to placate them well aware that withdrawal of support could pose problems to his government.
Later in the evening, Mr. Prasad called on President Pratibha Patil to explain the party's opposition to the Bill.
Mr. Prasad and Mr. Yadav jointly declared their intention to withdraw support to the government. Both said the Congress was behaving autocratically and sought to ride roughshod over them.
The RJD has four members and the SP 21 in the Lok Sabha and both parties had given the President letters of their unilateral support to the government. They were not part of the list submitted by Dr. Singh while staking claim to form the government.
Together the RJD and the SP have 15 members in the Rajya Sabha, where the Congress is already in a minority and this shortfall will only make floor management a difficult proposition should the Opposition press for a division on routine affairs.
Both Mr. Prasad and Mr. Singh stressed that they could reconsider their decision only if the government accommodated their view and effected amendments in the Bill allowing for sub-reservation for women belonging to the deprived sections.
Acting in tandem, these two leaders charged that the Prime Minister had not cared to heed their request to convene an all-party meeting to build consensus. Asked if they intended formalising their decision by calling on the President, the RJD chief asked: “Isn't my public proclamation sufficient?”
Mr. Prasad was particularly severe, charging that the UPA's action to deny reservation to women from Dalits, backward classes and minorities amounted to “political dacoity.”
Notwithstanding the decision of these two parties, Dr. Singh discussed the fallout with senior colleagues.
Should they formally withdraw support, the UPA will be left with about 290 members in the 543-member Lok Sabha, just a tad above the half-way mark.
Monday, March 8, 2010
MP tears copy of Women's Bill
The Lok Sabha was adjourned till Monday noon after MPs from the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) noisily opposed the Women's Reservation Bill that seeks to reserve a third of seats for women in all legislatures.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD president Lalu Prasad joined their party MPs in raising slogans as the speaker tried to continue the question hour amid the din.
Some SP and BSP MPs tried to disrupt the proceedings by gathering near the speaker's podium. The MPs from the three parties demanded that the bill should ensure a "quota within the quota" for women from backward classes.
At one stage, Mulayam Singh had a verbal spat with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the leader of the house. A desperate Mukherjee appealed to Mulayam Yadav with folded hands to end the disruption.
Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Sharad Yadav, one of the bitterest critics of the bill, was not present in the house.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and his deputy V. Narayanasamy also tried to pacify Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad but failed.
Unable to bring peace, the speaker adjourned the house at 11.20 a.m.
The protests started soon after the speaker welcomed special guests from the Croatian parliament to watch the house proceedings from a special box and made a reference to the international women's day Monday.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD president Lalu Prasad joined their party MPs in raising slogans as the speaker tried to continue the question hour amid the din.
Some SP and BSP MPs tried to disrupt the proceedings by gathering near the speaker's podium. The MPs from the three parties demanded that the bill should ensure a "quota within the quota" for women from backward classes.
At one stage, Mulayam Singh had a verbal spat with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the leader of the house. A desperate Mukherjee appealed to Mulayam Yadav with folded hands to end the disruption.
Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Sharad Yadav, one of the bitterest critics of the bill, was not present in the house.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and his deputy V. Narayanasamy also tried to pacify Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad but failed.
Unable to bring peace, the speaker adjourned the house at 11.20 a.m.
The protests started soon after the speaker welcomed special guests from the Croatian parliament to watch the house proceedings from a special box and made a reference to the international women's day Monday.
Voting on Women’s Bill deferred
Voting on the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha was deferred on Monday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh likely to call an all-party meeting on the issue on Tuesday after the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) threatened to withdraw support to the UPA Government.
On a day of dramatic developments, the Constitution Amendment Bill for reserving one-third of seats in Lok Sabha and Assemblies was tabled in the Rajya Sabha amidst unruly scenes with the opponents of the measure belonging to the SP, the RJD and an expelled member of the JD(U) tearing the copies of the measure.
After five adjournments, the House was adjourned for the day at 6 pm without the Bill being taken up despite the Government having the numbers to carry the legislation through.
But the staunch opponents — the SP and the RJD, which have 25 MPs in the Lok Sabha — sent ominous signals to the Government that has important money Bills and Budget to adopt in the Lower House that its majority may be made wafer-thin, just above the half-way mark of 272, if the BSP, which too is opposed to the legislation, also withdraws support.
This was followed by hectic consultations between the Prime Minister and his senior Cabinet colleagues and with leaders of the supporters of the Bill — BJP and Left parties — and with the opponents Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad together and with BSP's Satish Chandra Mishra separately.
The leaders opposing the Bill made it clear to the Prime Minister that their parties would vote against it in its present form without quota for women belonging to OBCs and Muslims and that there was no change.
On a day of dramatic developments, the Constitution Amendment Bill for reserving one-third of seats in Lok Sabha and Assemblies was tabled in the Rajya Sabha amidst unruly scenes with the opponents of the measure belonging to the SP, the RJD and an expelled member of the JD(U) tearing the copies of the measure.
After five adjournments, the House was adjourned for the day at 6 pm without the Bill being taken up despite the Government having the numbers to carry the legislation through.
But the staunch opponents — the SP and the RJD, which have 25 MPs in the Lok Sabha — sent ominous signals to the Government that has important money Bills and Budget to adopt in the Lower House that its majority may be made wafer-thin, just above the half-way mark of 272, if the BSP, which too is opposed to the legislation, also withdraws support.
This was followed by hectic consultations between the Prime Minister and his senior Cabinet colleagues and with leaders of the supporters of the Bill — BJP and Left parties — and with the opponents Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad together and with BSP's Satish Chandra Mishra separately.
The leaders opposing the Bill made it clear to the Prime Minister that their parties would vote against it in its present form without quota for women belonging to OBCs and Muslims and that there was no change.
SP, BSP, RJD oppose Women’s Bill, LS adjourned
SP, BSP and RJD members today strongly opposed the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha, with one of them even trying to climb the Speaker’s podium, leading to adjournment of the House till lunch.
The Bill, slated to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha, created storm in the Lok Sabha soon after Speaker Meira Kumar welcomed a Croatian delegation and read out a reference on International Women’s Day.
The moment Kumar called for Question Hour, SP, BSP and RJD members trooped into the Well demanding quotas for OBC, Dalit and Muslim women within the proposed law to reserve 33 per cent seats in Parliament and State assemblies for the fair sex.
The Speaker refused to adjourn the House and carried on with the Question Hour. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav gestured his party members to move forward and himself marched to the Well from the side of the treasury benches. Dara Singh Chauhan (BSP) and Lalu Prasad and Umashanker Singh (both RJD) followed Yadav.
At this moment, Mithilesh Kumar (SP) tried to climb the table placed in front of the Speaker prompting Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee to request Yadav to control his members.
On the SP chief’s directive, the members retreated a bit but stayed put in the Well and continued to raise slogans.
The Bill, slated to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha, created storm in the Lok Sabha soon after Speaker Meira Kumar welcomed a Croatian delegation and read out a reference on International Women’s Day.
The moment Kumar called for Question Hour, SP, BSP and RJD members trooped into the Well demanding quotas for OBC, Dalit and Muslim women within the proposed law to reserve 33 per cent seats in Parliament and State assemblies for the fair sex.
The Speaker refused to adjourn the House and carried on with the Question Hour. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav gestured his party members to move forward and himself marched to the Well from the side of the treasury benches. Dara Singh Chauhan (BSP) and Lalu Prasad and Umashanker Singh (both RJD) followed Yadav.
At this moment, Mithilesh Kumar (SP) tried to climb the table placed in front of the Speaker prompting Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee to request Yadav to control his members.
On the SP chief’s directive, the members retreated a bit but stayed put in the Well and continued to raise slogans.
Govt confident of passing Women’s Bill
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 12 noon amid uproar over SP, RJD demand for implementation of Ranganath Misra Commission report on minority welfare.
Earlier today, the Government today expressed confidence over passage of Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament, saying though it did not want to “bulldoze” those opposing it, they should understand that equality was a fundamental right.
“I would say that it is a national resolve (to give 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies). In all these 14 years, it has been waiting. A change has to come and this is the day the change will come,” Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily told reporters.
The Bill is slated to be taken up in Rajya Sabha today.
When asked if government would demand removal of members opposed to the Bill from the House, Mr. Moily said this was a hypothetical question.
“Our idea is not to bulldoze things. In a democracy, differences of opinion will be there, dissent will be there,” Mr. Moily said, adding that in a country of 600 million people, differences are bound to exist.
“I don't find fault in this but, at the same time, there are 600 million people and you are not in a position to get more than 18.5 per cent into legislatures. You cannot continue this kind of a domain. We need to provide them (women) the succour....Equality is a fundamental right,” he said.
The Law Minister said democracy required taking “appropriate decisions at the appropriate time”.
The Bill being brought in to coincide with the International Women's Day is expected to be approved without
any hitch with the Congress, BJP and the Left support and backing of some small parties and independents.
A Constitution amendment needs a two-thirds majority in voting requiring the support of 155 MPs in Rajya Sabha for its passage. The bill has clear backing of at least 165 MPs in the House with an effective strength of 233.
The opponents of the measure, BSP and SP, have 12 members each in Rajya Sabha while RJD has 4. Former premier H. D. Deve Gowda, whose JD(S) has 2 seats, said his party would give support if there is a OBC quota.
Earlier today, the Government today expressed confidence over passage of Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament, saying though it did not want to “bulldoze” those opposing it, they should understand that equality was a fundamental right.
“I would say that it is a national resolve (to give 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies). In all these 14 years, it has been waiting. A change has to come and this is the day the change will come,” Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily told reporters.
The Bill is slated to be taken up in Rajya Sabha today.
When asked if government would demand removal of members opposed to the Bill from the House, Mr. Moily said this was a hypothetical question.
“Our idea is not to bulldoze things. In a democracy, differences of opinion will be there, dissent will be there,” Mr. Moily said, adding that in a country of 600 million people, differences are bound to exist.
“I don't find fault in this but, at the same time, there are 600 million people and you are not in a position to get more than 18.5 per cent into legislatures. You cannot continue this kind of a domain. We need to provide them (women) the succour....Equality is a fundamental right,” he said.
The Law Minister said democracy required taking “appropriate decisions at the appropriate time”.
The Bill being brought in to coincide with the International Women's Day is expected to be approved without
any hitch with the Congress, BJP and the Left support and backing of some small parties and independents.
A Constitution amendment needs a two-thirds majority in voting requiring the support of 155 MPs in Rajya Sabha for its passage. The bill has clear backing of at least 165 MPs in the House with an effective strength of 233.
The opponents of the measure, BSP and SP, have 12 members each in Rajya Sabha while RJD has 4. Former premier H. D. Deve Gowda, whose JD(S) has 2 seats, said his party would give support if there is a OBC quota.
Centre unfazed by opposition to Women's Reservation Bill
The government on Sunday expressed the hope that the Women's Reservation Bill, 2008 would be passed in the current session of Parliament despite opposition from some political parties.
“I am expecting men and women to support me when I present the Bill in Rajya Sabha tomorrow [Monday],'' Union Law and Justice Minister Veerappa Moily said at a function here.
He said consensus among major political parties emerged after a lot of consultations but added that no single party could claim credit for it. The Bill has been pending for over a decade.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party has described the proposed legislation as “anti-Muslim and anti-other backward classes'' in its present form as it excluded women of these sections.
Terming the Bill “dangerous,'' SP chief Mulayam Singh suggested in Lucknow that women be given 50 per cent reservation in government jobs rather than a quota in Parliament and the State Assemblies.
The SP has called a meeting of its Rajya Sabha members for Monday morning to chalk out its course of action when the Bill is tabled.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal, too, has said it would oppose the Bill “tooth and nail and is “even prepared to be marshalled out.''
Describing the Bill as a “political blunder,'' RJD president Lalu Prasad said in Patna that it was a conspiracy hatched by both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress to suppress representation of women belonging to the Other Backward Classes, the Scheduled Tribes/Scheduled Castes and Muslim communities.
While there is a split in the Janata Dal (United) over the Bill with the Bihar Chief Minister extending support and party chief Sharad Yadav opposing it, the Bahujan Samaj Party has said it will not back the legislation in its present form.
Janata Dal (Secular) chief H.D. Deve Gowda, too, has said that his party will support the Bill only if there is reservation for OBC women.
But undeterred by these developments, Mr. Moily said: “After all, the country needs such legislation and with our best intentions, the political parties could not evolve a system where adequate representation was made available to women.”
He said the proposed constitutional amendment was the only “remedy'' to provide adequate representation to women.
“The people of the country, the women and Parliament will take the credit. There is no partition in this credit,” he said, when asked to react on the BJP's claim that it had first introduced the proposed legislation in the Lok Sabha but it could not be passed following stiff opposition.
“I am expecting men and women to support me when I present the Bill in Rajya Sabha tomorrow [Monday],'' Union Law and Justice Minister Veerappa Moily said at a function here.
He said consensus among major political parties emerged after a lot of consultations but added that no single party could claim credit for it. The Bill has been pending for over a decade.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party has described the proposed legislation as “anti-Muslim and anti-other backward classes'' in its present form as it excluded women of these sections.
Terming the Bill “dangerous,'' SP chief Mulayam Singh suggested in Lucknow that women be given 50 per cent reservation in government jobs rather than a quota in Parliament and the State Assemblies.
The SP has called a meeting of its Rajya Sabha members for Monday morning to chalk out its course of action when the Bill is tabled.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal, too, has said it would oppose the Bill “tooth and nail and is “even prepared to be marshalled out.''
Describing the Bill as a “political blunder,'' RJD president Lalu Prasad said in Patna that it was a conspiracy hatched by both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress to suppress representation of women belonging to the Other Backward Classes, the Scheduled Tribes/Scheduled Castes and Muslim communities.
While there is a split in the Janata Dal (United) over the Bill with the Bihar Chief Minister extending support and party chief Sharad Yadav opposing it, the Bahujan Samaj Party has said it will not back the legislation in its present form.
Janata Dal (Secular) chief H.D. Deve Gowda, too, has said that his party will support the Bill only if there is reservation for OBC women.
But undeterred by these developments, Mr. Moily said: “After all, the country needs such legislation and with our best intentions, the political parties could not evolve a system where adequate representation was made available to women.”
He said the proposed constitutional amendment was the only “remedy'' to provide adequate representation to women.
“The people of the country, the women and Parliament will take the credit. There is no partition in this credit,” he said, when asked to react on the BJP's claim that it had first introduced the proposed legislation in the Lok Sabha but it could not be passed following stiff opposition.
