Raj Thackeray criticises Yadav trio over Women's Reservation Bill

Mumbai, Mar 16 (ANI): Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has criticized Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Sharad Yadav for their opposition to the Women's Reservation Bill.

Thackeray said by opposing the Bill, these leaders have endangered Marathi pride as well by opposing the landmark legislation.

Taking a dig at the Yadav trio, Thackeray said they must learn how to respect women from the MNS or else they would be given a lesson on it.

Targeting Lalu Yadav, Thackeray said party tickets should not be given to wives and daughters of politicians.

"The MNS fully supports the Women's Reservation Bill. But I have one request, that power should be exercised by the women themselves, not their husbands," he added.

The Yadavs earlier said the Bill passed by the Rajya Sabha does not protect the interest of minorities, Dalits and Muslims, so they want a quota within this for the backward class and Muslim women.

History was created in the Rajya Sabha on March 9 when it voted by an overwhelming majority a Bill to reserve one-third of seats in Lok Sabha and Assemblies for women after government pushed ahead with it, ignoring possible threats to its stability and after eviction of troublesome MPs opposed to it.

Fourteen years after the first attempt was made in the Lok Sabha and repeated failures subsequently, the Constitution amendment bill was adopted in the mandatory division with 186 members voting for it and one voting against.

In the 245-member House with an effective strength of 233, the bill required the backing of at least 155 members and the UPA had the clear support of 165 in the run up to the event.

The bill seeks to reserve for women 181 of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha and 1,370 out of a total of 4,109 seats in the 28 State Assemblies. (ANI)