New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Tuesday urged the government to amend the women’s reservation bill to provide a separate quota to women from Dalit, the Scheduled Tribes, backward classes as well as poor from upper castes. It also felt that the reservation should be 50 percent.
Speaking after the bill was put to vote in the Rajya Sabha, BSP member Satish Chandra Misra said the legislation did not do justice to women from weaker sections.

“The bill will help only a limited number of people. It has not cared for interests of women belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, backward classes and socially and economically backward sections among the upper castes. We oppose the bill,” he said.

The constitutional amendment bill seeks to reserve 33 per cent seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Misra said his party chief Mayawati had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking reservation for women belonging to weaker sections.

He said reservation for Dalit women should be in addition to the existing benefits provided to the community.

Misra said his party felt that 33 per cent reservation for women was “discrimination” against them as they constitute 50 per cent of the country’s population.

“The bill should be brought again after removing its shortcomings,” he said, claiming that the present legislation will push the Dalits backwards.