Sharad Yadav, Uma Bharti for quota within quota

Special Correspondent

They insist that there be no whip from any party for voting on the Bill

NEW DELHI: BJP leader Uma Bharti on Monday met Chairman of the Janata Dal (United) Parliamentary Board Sharad Yadav here to jointly raise the demand for a quota for women from Scheduled Castes, Tribes and Other Backward Communities within the overall 33 per cent reservation for women in the Women’s Reservation Bill.

Mr. Yadav is among the leaders who have been invited by Home Minister Shivraj Patil for consultations on the Bill on Tuesday. The Bill calls for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.

Speaking to mediapersons after their 45 minute meeting, Mr. Yadav and Ms. Bharti said they would press for an amendment to the Bill on this issue and would insist that there be no whip from any party for voting on this Bill.

Mr. Yadav claimed he had been in touch with PMK, DMK and Samajwadi Party leaders and they had expressed similar views.

"If women are to be brought into the mainstream SC/ST, OBC and Muslim women must be given a chance. This is the reality of Indian society. It cannot be ignored," he said.

When reminded that recently JD (U) president George Fernandes had said that there should be no quota within quota for women, Mr. Yadav claimed that his view was the party’s view.

Ms. Bharti said the issue of reservation for backward castes within the 33 per cent reservation was raised in 1996 when the Bill was moved.

So far the BJP had not taken a stand on the issue but she would meet party leaders Atal Behari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani before the next all-party meeting to take a view on this.