SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav arrives to address a press meet in Lucknow on Sunday. — PTI |
Lucknow, March 14
Drawing a grim picture, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh today described the Women’s Reservation Bill as an “international conspiracy by forces jealous of India’s thriving democracy”.
Virtually calling the Bill a nail in democratic India’s coffin, the Yadav leader drew a hypothetical scenario by the end of the third election under the proposed Act when the representation of women in Parliament would reach 99 per cent, hence almost phasing out representation of men.
“With India not having friendly relations with its neighbours and China and Pakistan eying our borders, there is a need for experienced leadership at the top. Imagine the fate of the nation when all the experienced people would be out of Parliament with no say in the decision-making process,” said a clearly hysterical Yadav.
Claiming not to be against women as was being projected in the media, Yadav clarified that keeping the interest of the nation in mind he was opposing the Bill tooth and nail.
Reiterating his demand for quota for OBC, Dalits and Muslims within the quota, the SP president said since 1952 around 7,906 MPs were elected to the Lok Sabha, of which only 14 (0.17 per cent) have been Muslim women. Their representative will worsen with the Bill, he warned.
