Ranganath Mishra report may be discussed in parliament

New Delhi, April 6 (IANS) Amid political stalemate over introduction of the women's reservation bill in the Lok Sabha, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government Monday indicated its desire to discuss the Ranganath Mishra report, which recommends 15 per cent quota for minorities in jobs and education.

Congress sources said Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee indicated possibility of the report being taken up for discussion during his meeting with leaders of political parties in the Lok Sabha on the women's reservation bill.

The report was tabled in parliament in December last year.

The sources said that the discussion on the report in the second half of budget session beginning April 15 can soften Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which are bitterly opposed to the women's reservation bill that seeks to reserve 33 percent quota for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The two parties are demanding reservation for minorities, Dalits, and backward classes within the 33 percent quota.

The sources said that discussion on the Ranganath Mishra Commission report is also likely to split the opposition unity and isolate the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is opposed to religion-based reservations.

The entire opposition and some allies of the UPA have demonstrated unity on the issue of price rise, causing some anxiety in the government over the finance bill, which will be taken up for discussion in the second half of the budget session.

The opposition and the Samajwadi Party have decided to move cut motions against the government.