Apparently with an eye on the upcoming Assembly polls in West Bengal, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said the “sentiments” of minorities should be kept in mind while placing the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha.
“We fully support the Women’s Reservation Bill but minorities have some sentiments that also we have to consider,” the Trinamool Congress chief told reporters here.
Six-phased Assembly polls in West Bengal will be held on April 18, 23, 27, May 3, 7 and 10.
Some political parties are opposed to the Women’s Reservation Bill in its present form and they want the government to provide a quota within quota for women from the backward castes and minorities.
The bill was first introduced as the Constitution (81st Amendment) Bill 1996. It is now called the Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill 2010.
It was passed in the Rajya Sabha last year amid bedlam.
Days before the bill was passed by the Upper House, Trinamool Congress leaders have said that viewpoint of the Dalits, OBCs and Muslims should be taken on board.
