Katiyar demands debate on Women’s Bill within BJP

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Friday , May 09, 2008 at 2241 hrs Not happy with the Women’s Quota Bill in its present form, BJP general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Katiyar raised his voice of dissent against the party line and demanded a detailed discussion on the issue within the party to form a formal opinion.

Arguing that what deputy leader of the party in Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj’s opinion on the Bill was not the party’s line on the issue, Katiyar said, “We still need to assess the intentions with which the Bill has been brought. A clause-by-clause detailed discussion is more than required, as if it is passed in its present form, it will benefit only to the upper caste women.”

Meanwhile downplaying the dissenting voice in the party over the issue, the party claimed that in a democratic party such difference of opinions would exist.

Reacting to Katiyar’s demand for “quota within the quota” Swaraj said, “There is democracy in the party and one is free to express his views. But when it comes to the party’s stand, each one would follow the official stand.”

Interestingly, Swaraj, on the behalf of the party, wholeheartedly welcomed the introduction of the Bill in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, which was done amidst high drama.

Claiming that the party is yet to form its opinion on the issue of women reservation and extending support to the government measure, Katiyar said, “The issue of women’s reservation would be raised at the party’s national executive for a detailed discussion as its provisions in the present form are against the interests of poor, backwards and Dalits.”

Also raising objection over the way the Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha, Katiyar doubted the intentions of the Congress and blamed it for betraying the poor, downtrodden and backwards.