New Delhi: The all-party meeting on the women's reservation bill failed to reach a consensus with Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad firm on opposing the bill in its present form.
Congress' chief troubleshooter and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had called the all-party meet in an attempt to build consensus on the bill.
But the meet failed to force Lalu to backtrack from his demand for a quota for women from Muslims, Dalits and other backward castes in the bill.
"I thank the government for this all-party meeting. But Muslim and backward and Dalit women must be given quota. Our stand has not changed. We have requested the government to rethink the issue and call for a second meeting ," said Lalu after the meeting.
However, the BJP said that it was against a quota within the quota.
"We want a discussion on the bill in a peaceful manner. If there is a consensus on the Election Commission's proposal we are ready for that too. But we are against quota within a quota," said BJP MP Sushma Swaraj.
Lalu along with Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has maintained that the opposition to the bill will stay unless their demands are met.
After the meet, Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee who was also initially against the bill, said the interest of minorities will be looked at.
Even Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav has been demanding a quota within quota. However, another Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has supported the bill.
The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance is hoping to introduce the bill in the Lok Sabha when Parliament reconvenes on April 15. UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi is adamant that the bill be passed in its present form.
Rajya Sabha had last month passed the Constitution amendment bill providing for 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
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