New Delhi: Despite opposition from certain
parties, government is determined to go ahead with the Women`s Reservation Bill expected to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha on Monday and sees no problem in its passage due to the united backing of Congress, BJP and Left parties.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal told reporters
that the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Upper House
today decided to allot four hours for discussion on the Bill,
which was introduced in the House in 2008.
"Please do not go into numbers game. There is no problem
about numbers in either House. We are clear in our intention
we are going to pass the Bill," he said when asked opposition
from Samajwadi Party, RJD, BSP and JD(U) to the Bill in its
present form.
Reaching out to those opposing the measure in its present
form, Bansal appealed "we want everyone to join this
important cause and give it as an example to the world".
His statement came close on the heels of Congress President
Sonia Gandhi`s assertion that she personally attaches the
"highest importance" to the Bill, which seeks to reserve 33
per cent seats for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.
Noting that late Rajiv Gandhi had first unveiled the
vision of empowering women, she said it was a matter of pride
that even though the Bill has taken so long, "it is our
government that has cleared the legislation in Cabinet".
She said Monday, March 8 was the centenary of the
International Women`s Day and "what a gift to the women of
India if on this important day, this historic legislation is
introduced and passed".
-PTI
