A confrontation over the issue of the Women's Reservation Bill appeared imminent in Parliament with Government planning to take it up next week, triggering a sharp reaction by its detractors Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad with the latter threatening "war".
Yuddh hoga (There will be war) declared Lalu Prasad interjecting in the discussion in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of thanks to the President for her address.
His warning came even as Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam announced that his party would oppose tooth and nail the Women's Reservation Bill and spoke about "uproar" in Parliament.
"At the most you can do is to throw us out (of the House) and cancel our membership", Mulayam said, giving ample hints that those opposed to the measure in its present form would not take lying down attempts to pass it without amendments.
"The condition of Muslims is worse than that of the SCs and STs and they (the government) are more worried about the women's reservation bill," Mulayam claimed.
The SP and RJD are opposed to the bill in its present form and want a quota within quota for women from backward classes.
The statements of the two leaders came close on the heels of government's announcement that it planned to bring the bill in the Rajya Sabha on March eight, the International Women's Day.
The Constitution Amendment bill is being brought in its present form, which envisages 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies.