PM should introduce women reservation bill in Parliament: Karat

Allahabad, Sep 5 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat today advised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to bring a consensus on the women reservation bill among the allies of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and introduce it in the Parliament.

Talking to mediapersons here, she said some political parties for their narrow political gains had been sabotaging this bill from last 10 years.

Ms Karat added the pecentage of women in her party was 12. She advised all the parties to enroll more and more women in their respective organisations, appoint office bearers and allot maximum number of seats in Parliament, state assembly and other elections.

She maintained without making the women reservation a constitutional provision, women cannot be benefitted.

On the singing of Vande Mataram, she said the issue was raised by fundamentalist Muslims and organisations related to the RSS and BJP.

''They are creating rift among the people for narrow political gains.'' Ms Karat slammed the BJP for having utterly failed in playing the role of opposition. ''BJP is known for creating issues, which create religious tensions.'' Expressing concern on the increasing number of suicide by farmers, she said wrong policies of the Uttar Pradesh government were responsible for it.

She advised both the centre and state government to ponder over the grievances of farmers, as they were the backbone of our economy.

Criticising import of wheat, she said to leave the fate of farmers in the hands of big traders was really unfortunate.

''The government was importing wheat at the rate of Rs 900 per quintal and was still not ready to pay farmers Rs 700 per quintal.'' On the acquisition of farmers' land, she added before taking over their lands, the government must make the arrangement for the livelihood of the farmers.

''Our party would oppose any decision of the government, which was against the interest of farmers. Our role in and outside the house would be the same. Simultaneoulsy, our party was supporting the good works of the UPA government including Right to Information and food for work programmes.'' she asserted.

On being questioned about the privatisation of insurance companies, she said that ''we oppose it.'' UNI JL ATI VS SI PC1936