Sharad Pawar hints at reduction in Women's Reservation Bill 33% quota

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Sunday indicated there was a strong possibility of a reduction in the 33% quota in the Women’s Reservation Bill. This was to ensure consensus among political parties protesting against the legislation in its present form.

Addressing party workers at Karla, Pune, at the end of the two-day NCP conclave, Pawar said, “Amendments in the present bill cannot be ruled out. To ensure consensus among all parties, there are chances of reducing the 33% quota.”

According to a senior Congress functionary based in Delhi, “the crucial issue which is worrying mainstream male members across the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, NCP, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, et al” is the quantum of quota for women. “Under the pretext of OBCs and minorities, those stalling the bill actually want to bring down the quota from 33% to 20%,” he said, even as he indicated that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was not keen on alterations.

But, if there is consensus among all parties, the reduction could well become a reality