New Delhi, Mar 8 : Political parties on International Women's Day, cutting across party line, called for passing the long-pending Women's Reservation Bill to give 33 per cent reservation to women in the legislatures but the Yadav leaders said that poor women must get precedence in the quota bill.
The government urged the Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar to take afresh initiative to evolve a consensus. Meira Kumar, on her part, read out a couplet : "Pankh bhi hain, khula aasman bhi hai, Phir yeh na ud paane ki majboori kaisi" ( We have wings, we have the open sky, then why am I not allowed to fly). "I hope some way will be found", she added.
In an impromptu debate, members expressed their views with SP, RJD and JD(U) warning against pushing the Women's Reservation Bill that provides for 33 per cent quota in its original form in the Lok Sabha, as was done in Rajya Sabha.
Responding to the members' views, Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee said, "I entirely agree with the Leader of Opposition (Sushma Swaraj). There is convergence of views ....It will be highly appreciative if some initiative is taken by you to try to find a solution, if possible through reconciliation."
Underlining the need for a dialogue, he said "We will be able to demonstrate that we can find ways to resolve the irreconcilable differences. Let us commit ourselves on this day to find a way out. This way only, we can fulfil our long-standing commitment."
Earlier raising the issue, Swaraj said there was need for a consensus over the bill, pending for last 16 years, at a time when the top four posts of President, Speaker, Leader of Opposition and UPA Chairperson were being held by women.
She wanted Kumar to convene a meeting of all political parties after the assembly elections in five states with the resolve to find a way out so as to make the passage of the bill, already passed by Rajya Sabha a year ago, a reality.
Observing that several meetings have been held without any decision in the matter, she said "hold the meeting for two, three or four days. Don't call it off before a solution is hammered out."
Supporting reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, the Speaker said that after the assembly polls, a meeting of parties should be called to evolve a consensus.
Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), Sharad Yadav (JD-S) and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD) warned of dire consequences if quota within quota was not provided for women from backward classes, minorities and scheduled castes and tribes.
"The bill was passed by force. If the same is attempted here (in Lok Sabha), there will be war", the RJD leader said. Maintaining that he was not opposed to reservation for women, Mulayam Singh Yadav said political parties should give 20 per cent of their tickets to women candidates.
Opposing the bill in its present form, he said, "If it is passed like this, there will not be a single male member in this House. We will be asked to leave and make room for women."
Emphasising that 20 per cent quota was the best way to ensure reservation, Mulayam Singh Yadav said he had floated this proposal when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister and the latter had agreed.
To make a point, he said women like President Pratibha Patil and the Speaker had reached top positions without any reservation.
Sharad Yadav said a "major struggle" would be launched if only the creamy layer of women were benefited and 70-80 percent of women, who were part of the neglected sections, were left out.
"This is what will happen if the present bill is adopted", he said, observing that quota would not mean anything unless social reforms were carried out to uplift women.
Congress leader Girija Vyas lamented that it was a tragedy that even in this hour and day, "we still have to plead for the measure."
She said even 60 years after independence, the number of women in Parliament has not gone above 10-11 per cent.
"You can be rest assured that we will not boss over you, but work hand in hand together," she sought to assure male members and at the same time, cautioned that if a fair deal was not given to the fair sex, there will be a storm.
Basudeb Acharia (CPI-M) wanted to know why there was delay in bringing the bill to Lok Sabha and demanded that the measure be brought to the House and passed immediately.
"There is an urgent need to enact a law to amend the Constitution. We are not averse to any further negotiation in the matter, though we have had a series of discussions over the past 16 years", the CPI(M) leader said.
Prabodh Panda (CPI) and Nama Nageshwar Rao (TDP) wanted the immediate passage of the bill in its present form.
Observing that the bill would go a long way to resolve the problems of women, especially the poor, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (Trinamool Congress) highlighted the need for empowerment of women.
Supriya Sule (NCP) sought empowerment of women particularly those "who are at the bottom of the (societal) pyramid" and said the bill was "critical" to meet that end.
Anand Rao Adsul (Shiv Sena) wanted political parties to be given the right to give tickets to women, while Baliram (BSP) said his party wanted quota for SCs, STs and minorities in order to ensure that women from the poor sections got elected to Parliament and state assemblies.
Tathagata Satpathi (BJD) said "capability and strength, grit and determination" made a strong woman like Indira Gandhi. PTI
