Genre: News > India Election 2009

Jun 5, 2009: JD (U) president Sharad Yadav on Friday threatened to commit suicide if the Women's Reservation Bill was passed in the Parliament.

 

Yadav said he would consume poison if the Bill was passed in its present form.

 

On Thursday, President Pratibha Patil while addressing the joint session of Parliament announced that the UPA government would pass the Women's Reservation Bill within 100 days

 

Yadav said though they did not have enough numbers in the Parliament, he would oppose the Bill and if necessary commit suicide in order to prevent its passage.

 

JD (U) President also accused Congress of ‘tokenism' for its appointment of woman as a President and also as a Speaker.

 

Yadav said underprivileged women needed to be liberated first.

 

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Background

Sharad Yadav is the president of the Janata Dal (United), which is an alliance partner of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

 

He is currently an MP representing Bihar in Rajya Sabha. 

 

He held union ministry portfolios of civil aviation, labor and consumer affairs, food and public distribution in the NDA rule of 1999-2004.

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