http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Sharad-Yadav-picks-poison-over-womens-quota/articleshow/4621042.cms
Sharad Yadav picks poison over women's quota 6 Jun 2009, 0110 hrs IST, TNN NEW DELHI: The anti-women quota rhetoric hit the roof on Friday, with JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav threatening to drink poison in the House to oppose the measure. He added for good measure: ``This is tokenism. Women will not gain freedom by making a woman as President or Speaker or giving them quota.'' Few, however, were moved by the JD(U) convener's theatrics, seen as a last-gasp effort to rally the OBC political class against the constitutional amendment bill. ``This time, the bill will be passed,'' remarked a stoic Sushma Swaraj, BJP's deputy leader in Lok Sabha, reflecting the growing confidence that the landmark bill will, finally, go through. Opinion within Yadav's own JD(U) seemed split, with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, according to sources, in no mood to obstruct the passage of the bill. Sources said that Kumar whose government reserved 50% of seats for women in panchayats and local bodies — the first initiative of its kind — may shortly convey his view to party MPs. Yadav, however, was completely undeterred as he came down heavily on the UPA government's fresh push for the contentious legislation, as reflected by President Pratibha Patil in her joint address to Parliament on Thursday. Calling it tokenism which would not liberate women, Yadav reiterated his demand for an OBC quota within the larger women's quota. Invoking Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher, he announced that he could go so far as to drink poison. ``Socrates had to consume poison to usher in a revolution. I will also consume poison,'' said the JD(U) leader. Yadav has been an old hand at opposing the women's quota. A few years ago, he caused an uproar with his remark that the bill was designed to benefit the city-based women elite whom he described as ``par kati auraten'' (women with short hair). While the protest from Yadav and other OBC leaders has succeeded in holding up the passage of the constitutional amendment bill all these years, this time, he appears to be fighting a losing battle. The Congress leadership, which put the measure on hold for fear of annoying the formidable OBC class, seems determined to assert itself on the issue. It can count on both the BJP and Left which have consistently campaigned for the women's quota. Yadav said the pressure for women's quota did not come out of any movement but was the demand of a handful of Delhi-centric women. He said the real reason for the backwardness of womenfolk was the entrenched caste system, and the quota would not address that. ``The mothers of India are slaves because of caste system. Break the caste system and women will themselves progress without any help of quota,'' said Yadav. The known critic of quota said the legislation was a ploy to reduce the growing membership of backwards in the legislatures. He said certain sections were unable to stomach the rising strength of poor and backwards in Parliament and assemblies, and thought that women's bill was the best way to strike at their numbers. ------------------------------------ ---- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [email protected], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to [email protected] TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to [email protected] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[email protected] mailto:[email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
