Introduce women's bill in present form: CPI-M

Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury on Monday said the Left parties are in favour of the much-delayed Women's Reservation Bill and maintained that it should be introduced in Parliament in its original form.

"We have been saying since the last 10 years that the bill should be introduced in Parliament in its original form. Whatever issues other parties have with it, should be discussed as part of the debate in Parliament on the bill," Yechury said.

He said parties like Rashtriya Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party "are opposed to the bill, as they have certain issues related to it. However, these could be discussed in Parliament through amendments also".

Minister for Rural Development and senior RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said the bill could be discussed, but added that his party's agitation on the issue would continue as it wants reservation for women belonging to SC, ST and OBC categories within the proposed quota.

"Women who belong to SC, ST and OBC categories should be given reservation first, as they are economically backward. Till this aspect is not adhered to, our agitation against the bill would continue," Prasad said.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi said his party has always been in favour of the bill, which calls for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament. However, the United Progressive Alliance government and its allies have not been able to reach a consensus on it, he said.

"We have always been supportive of the Bill. In fact, we have implemented its provisions within our party also. However, the allies of UPA government have not been able to form a consensus on it," he said.