Pune/New Delhi:
Reduction in the 33 per cent quota for the fair sex envisaged in the Women's Reservation Bill can be considered to arrive at a consensus, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said.
Pawar, speaking at the concluding session of the NCP's two-day national conclave at Karla, is perhaps the first UPA leader to have talked of considering a reduction in the quota.
"A combination of Yadavs has emerged to oppose the Bill. I had a talk with them. I told them that the Bill could be amended to address their concerns in respect of OBC and Muslim women. A reduction in the proposed 33 per cent reservation can be considered to arrive at a consensus," he remarked.
So far, Congress leaders have been against reducing the quota of 33 per cent.
Party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi dismissed lowering of the percentage as "needless speculation". "We do not live to tilt at windmills and do imaginary crossing of non-existent bridges", he said.
Claiming that the campaign by the Yadav trio would turn out to be a "damp squib", senior party leader V Kishore
Chandra Dev insists there is "no going back" on the 33 per cent quota.
"The very fact that the Yadavs are bargaining for percentage meant that they have accepted the principle of reservation," he said.
Pawar's statement is significant as it comes a couple of days before the first phase of the Budget Session is to conclude and the government is expected to hold talks with all concerned over the issue, which obviously includes the opponents of the Bill.