NEW DELHI - RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday opposed the present structure of Women’s Reservation Bill, saying it is aimed at preventing the political progress of backward sections and would “finish” regional parties.

“Mulayam Singh had said there was a conspiracy (in bringing the bill in its present form) and I am now exposing it,” the RJD chief said in the Lok Sabha.

Yadav advocated reservation within reservation for women belonging to the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and minorities.

“We are not against Women’s Reservation Bill. The government can carry on with the proceedings. There are sections in our society like Muslims, tribals and many other backward classes which don’t have proper representation, so there should be reservation within reservation for them,” Yadav said.

“We want the representation of women from the most backward classes in the parliament and state assemblies,” he added.

Meanwhile in Bihar, CPI (M) women activists staged a demonstration against SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s statement that he would not allow easy passage of the bill in its present form.

Women across India have been lobbying intensely for the Bill, which seeks to reserve one-third of seats for them in lower house of parliament and state legislatures.

Earlier, JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav had said that he would consume poison if the Women Reservation Bill were passed in the parliament.

After drawing flak from all corners for his remark, Yadav clarified that his party was “not against empowerment of women”, but would not support the women’s reservation bill in its present form, as it would only empower those from the “elite class”. (ANI)