New Delhi: Unable to make their point over Women's Reservation Bill during the business hours, proponents and opponents of the legislation on Thursday used the adjournment periods in Lok Sabha to convince each other about their views.
As the Lok Sabha was adjourned at 11.40 am for 20 minutes following uproar by members of SP, RJD and JD-U, who are opposed to the bill, hectic activities were witnessed in the House.
Members from various parties were seen approaching those of others to convince them about their points of view on the bill that has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha and is to be introduced in the Lok Sabha.
Clusters of members, cutting across party lines, were seen holding consultations.
RJD Chief Lalu Prasad and Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav walked up to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, apparently to persuade her not to press the bill.
Gandhi was joined by Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee and they together tried to convince the opponents to give up their resistance.
"Aap inki baat suniye (listen to him)," Gandhi was heard telling Prasad and Yadav while pointing towards Mukherjee.
Trinamool Congress President Mamata Banerjee, whose party did not participate in voting in Rajya Sabha in protest against the bill, also joined them and was significantly seen as acting as a mediator.
She goaded Prasad to tell his point of view to Gandhi.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 13:37