The bill, a constitutional amendment legislation requiring two-third majority support, has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha.
Consensus eluded the all-party meeting held here today to break the logjam over the Women's Reservation Bill with the Yadav trio sticking to their demand for quota within quota and UPA ally Trinamool Congress joining chorus with them.
After two hours of intense deliberations, it was decided that more discussions would be held on the issue, triggering questions whether the bill could be introduced in Lok Sabha in the second half of the Budget Session beginning on April 15.
The bill, a constitutional amendment legislation requiring two-third majority support, has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha.
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee discussions with leaders of Samajwadi Party, RJD, JD(U), the parties which have been staunchly opposing the bill that provides for 33% reservation to women in Lok Sabha and Assemblies.
Leaders of BJP, CPI(M), CPI, TDP, which are supporting the proposed legislation, also attended the meeting along with
UPA allies Trinamool Congress and DMK.
On the government's side, Mukherjee was joined by Parliamentary affairs minister P K Bansal, home minister P
Chidambaram, defence minister A K Antony and law minister
Veerappa Moily.
A brief statement issued by the Parliamentary affairs ministry said, "further discussions will continue".
Emerging from the meeting, RJD chief Lalu Prasad said any kind of reservation for women should include muslims, backward classes and dalits.
"There is no question of going back on our position," he told reporters.
At the meeting, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee echoed the argument of RJD, SP and JD(U) as she emphasised that Muslim interest should not be ignored.
BSP also pressed for quota within quota, failing which it would oppose the bill.
The views expressed at today's meeting would be conveyed to prime minister Manmohan Singh after which a decision would
be taken on timing for further consultations.
With regard to demands for quota within quota, CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia said the government should come forward
with a proposal on how this could be done "as under the
Constitutional set up there is no provision of reservation in
election either for OBC or Muslim minorities.
To a question, he replied that his party was not opposed to it and "If a proposal comes then it can be considered".
At the same time, he said his party favoured passing of the bill in its present form as it has already been cleared in Rajya Sabha.
Asked whether the bill would be delayed because of continued opposition to it,Acharia said his party was ready for deferment if it leads to consensus.
However, "if deferment leads to abandoning the bill, we are against it," said Acharia, whose party is in favour of the proposed legislation.
Gurudas Dasgupta of CPI said his party "does not mind if the government takes time to arrive at a consensus but it will not support any kind of deferment if the intention is to dump
the bill".
On the issue of quota within quota, he said, "we have not raised it."
Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, while pitching for consensus on the issue, said BJP was "totally against quota
within quota".
She, however, said her party would give support to any proposal for reservation as per the formula prescribed by MS Gill as chief election commissioner which would make it binding on political parties to give quota to women in ticket distribution.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}