After threatening to consume poison if the Women’s Reservation Bill is passed by Parliament in its current form, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav today demanded separate quota for those belonging to backward castes. “I am not asking for a reservation of 33 per cent (for women), it could be even 50 per cent. But ground realities should not overlooked. Weaker sections among women face more difficulty,” he told reporters here.

Yadav pointed out that the JD(U)-led Bihar government implemented 50 per cent reservation for women two and a half years ago to prove his point that his party was not opposed to quota for women but was against its current form.

The bill should mirror the Indian society, he said, seeking separate quota within the overall quota for women belonging to backward castes.

“The aspirations of 90 per cent of the population and the nature of Indian society should be kept in mind (before passing the Bill),” he said.

Yadav had said in the Lok Sabha on Friday that he would “consume poison” if the Bill was passed in its present form but later clarified to reporters that he was only citing Greek philosopher Socrates who had consumed poison (hemlock) as he did not want to support something he did not believe in.