New Delhi: Government on Friday dismissed
reports that it planned to bring the contentious Women's
Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha during the current session
marred by a standoff over the JPC issue.
"There is no talk of Women's Reservation Bill. There
is no proposal.... I have not received any notice from the
concerned ministry," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan
Kumar Bansal told reporters here.
He was reacting to reports claiming that the
government was contemplating bringing the women's bill to
break the opposition unity over demand for a joint
parliamentary committee on the 2G spectrum scam.
The bill, seeking to provide 33 per cent reservation
to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, has been passed in
the Rajya Sabha with the Congress, BJP and the Left joining
hands despite stiff opposition from SP, RJD and JD(U).
Other ministers to dismissed the reports contending
that the Constitution amendment bill needed a two-third
majority for its passage and wondered how it could be brought
at a time when the Lok Sabha has been paralysed for the last
16 days.
"What is the point in introducing it when it cannot be
passed," said a minister.
The current session of Parliament is scheduled to
conclude on December 13 and Bansal said there was no proposal
as of now to adjourn it early.
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 03, 2010, 19:17