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Nitish refutes reports of split in JD(U)
Patna, Mar 10 (PTI)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today admitted that sharp differences prevailed in the JD(U) over the Women's Reservation Bill, but ruled out any crisis or split facing the party.
"I admit there have been honest differences of opinion in the party over the support to the women's reservation bill in Lok Sabha...but it should not be taken as a crisis or split facing the party," Kumar told reporters here.
On a section of media suggesting that he might break away from the JD(U) and launch a new party, Kumar said, "I simply ignore such report.""My point of view on the bill is quite crystal clear... Bihar is the first state which under the rule of NDA provided 50 per cent reservation to women in panchayati raj institutions and urban bodies," he said.
"Since the Centre and other states are adopting the decision of the state's NDA government for ensuring reservation to women, with the experience I received from the desires and aspirations of women running panchayati raj institutions and urban bodies effectively, I can never shy away from supporting a similar move by the Centre," he said. The Chief Minister said women are doing well in managing the affairs of the local and urban bodies "and their desires are for total empowerment and actively involve in the policy-making process."
Asserting that he was not averse to ensure reservation for OBCs and other weaker sections of the society in the women's reservation bill, Kumar said, "Let the bill be allowed to be adopted by the Lok Sabha first...then we can go for making suggestions for bringing OBCs and other weaker sections under its ambit."
On reports that majority of the JD(U) Lok Sabha members are siding with him on the issue, Kumar said, "I don't want to get dragged into such controversy." On JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav's reservation about the bill, he said, "I have explained what I have to say on the issue."
He evaded repeated questions about possibility of split in the JD(U) saying, "I have expressed my views clearly and there is nothing to add...Moreover, the party leaders have honest differences of opinions on this issue that doesn't mean that there are differences on whole issues and policies the party pursued."
