SP to protest passage of women's reservation bill in its present form

The Samajwadi Party, which opposes the Women's Reservation Bill in its present form, today said it will register its "protest" on Monday when the bill is scheduled to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha.

The Samajwadi Party, which opposes the Women's Reservation Bill in its present form, on Saturday said it will register its "protest" on Monday when the bill is scheduled to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha.

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"We will register our protest using all parliamentary practices," senior party leader Mohan Singh told PTI.

Asked whether SP has issued any whip to its Rajya Sabha members to vote against the bill, Singh said if a whip was issued, the members will be informed on Monday morning itself.

"We have a very small presence in Rajya Sabha. If a whip is issued, we will inform them before the House proceedings commence," he said.

The SP has 12 members in the Upper House.

SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had recently warned of "uproar" (hurdang) in Parliament if the bill was tabled in its present form.

The SP was the only political party which gave its dissent note to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice in writing on the Women's Reservation Bill when it (the bill) was referred to the panel.

The SP has suggested reservation within reservation for OBC women, which should not be more than 20 per cent.

PMK and RJD also expressed reservation but had not submitted a dissent note to the Committee.