UPA trying to keep top leaders out through Women's Bill: SP

Jaipur: In its fresh opposition to the women's bill ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, Samajwadi Party on Friday charged the UPA with trying to keep top leaders away from politics under the garb of the measure.

"It is true that we are giving support to the UPA. But we are against certain policies including the Women's Reservation Bill in its existing form," SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said.

He was addressing people who were held under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during Emergency period 35 years ago.

Claiming that his government in Uttar Pradesh had provided pension benefit to MISA prisoners, Yadav said the present Mayawati government tried to stop it but the court did not allow.

Referring to Bihar, where Assembly elections are due in a few months, he said SP would like to have a tie-up with JD(U).

The former defence minister alleged that the union government was silent on China's move to "grab Indian territory".

"The Indian border is not safe," he said, adding "the government that cannot protect its border has no right to stay in power".