Sharad Yadav threatens suicide over Women Reservation Bill

New Delhi, June 5 (ANI): Senior Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav and member of Lok Sabha on Friday threatened to consume poison in the House if the Women Reservation Bill was passed in its present form.

"We may not have the numbers but I will consume poison and die here but not allow the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill," Sharad Yadav said in Parliament.

Participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address to the joint sitting of Parliament, Yadav accused the Congress of indulging in "tokenism" over the issue of reservation for women.

Contending that the actual need was to liberate women of the backward and most backward classes in the country, Yadav said: "Congress party has been resorting to tokenism by appointing a woman as President and as Speaker,"

Yadav argued for bringing empowerment to majority of women, which exists in the most backward quarters of Indian society and also those who have been suffering because of prevalent caste system. And, he objected to ensuring 'reservation' in Parliament for a few instead of doing something for those who actually need it.

The Bill has been pending since 1999, as pro-backward parties have been demanding 'a quota within quota' for women belonging to backward, minority and scheduled castes. (ANI)