Sena to oppose Women’s Bill if force used to pass measure

Shiv Sena, an ally of NDA, which voted for the Women’s Reservation Bill in Rajya Sabha, on Thursday said it will oppose it if marshals were called in and force was used to pass the measure in Lok Sabha.

“We will not allow the Bill to be passed in Lok Sabha with the use of marshals and force. We will strongly oppose it,” Anant Geete, Leader of the Party in Lok Sabha told reporters here.

Opposing the Bill in its present form, Mr. Geete alleged the government was hardly interested in the welfare of women but only wanted to take credit for the legislation.

Senior party leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi said the party is not opposed to 33 per cent reservation for women but constituencies should not be reserved and instead it should be made mandatory for the parties to give 33 per cent reservation to women.

“Our party has made it clear that it supports 33 per cent reservation. But parties should decide and reserve this and constituencies should not be reserved,” Mr. Joshi said, seeking an amendment in the Bill.

Asked what would the party do if the government brought the Bill in the same form in the Lower House, he said, “We will decide the strategy when the Bill is brought in Lok Sabha.”