No proposal to dilute women’s Bill: Congress

Even as NCP leader Sharad Pawar indicated that there could be some dilution in the Women’s Reservation Bill, the ruling Congress party on Monday maintained that there was no such proposal.

“Let me make it clear that there is no such proposal. There is no such idea,” party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said when asked if the views of the Yadav troika of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and JD(U) President Sharad Yadav would be accommodated in the Bill.

Mr. Singhvi said within the UPA coalition everything is discussed and there is no disharmony. “We will be on the same page,” he said.

The spokesman said the UPA pushed the Bill in the Rajya Sabha and it will achieve the dream of getting it passed. “There is no cause of speculation in this regard,” he added.

Asked about BJP and Left supporting the Women’s Reservation Bill and joining hand to oppose the Nuclear Liabilities Bill, Mr. Singhvi said there was no connection between the two Bills.

He said it was for the BJP and the Left parties to decide if they come together on an issue but added that wherever there is a “clear, transparent public interest” involved, the party will go ahead.

Mr. Singhvi said the party sought support from BJP on 123 Agreement and the Women’s Reservation Bill, adding that it was “unmasked on 123”.