April 1, 2010 8:45 AM

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Premature to talk of dilution in Women's Reservation: PM

<br/>The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh dismissed as too premature the possibility of any dilution in the Women's Reservation Bill. The observation comes in the wake of stiff opposition from some parties. The Bill seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies. Dr Singh said the matter is under discussion and added that Government will discuss with political parties how best to proceed on the issue. At the AICC briefing in New Delhi, party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan rejected suggestions of any dilution in the Bill. <br/><br/>Replying to a volley of questions on the issue, she said, the Government's stand is that it should be passed in the same form as in the Rajya Sabha. Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said the government is going ahead with the bill in its present form in the Lok Sabha in the second phase of the Budget session beginning April 15. He has denied that there would be any changes in the bill. AIR Correspondent reports, with the government determined to go ahead with the Women's Reservation Bill, a meeting of leaders of political parties in the Lok Sabha has been convened on 5th of April. <br/><br/>Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is Leader of the Lok Sabha, has convened the meeting in the capital against the backdrop of strong reservations by the leaders of SP, RJD and JDU. While, Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad oppose the bill in its present form, JDU is divided on the issue, with Nitish Kumar in favor of the bill and Sharad Yadav against it. <br/><br/>Union minister Mamata Banerjee is insisting that the government should take everyone along and especially UPA allies like RJD and SP which are providing crucial outside support to the government. Mayawati-led BSP has also been opposing the bill in its present form. While the BJP had supported the Bill in the Rajya Sabha along with the Left parties, a section in the BJP is having reservations over the bill.

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