Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) With the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government expected to face hurdles in the passage of the women’s reservation bill in the Lok Sabha, the Congress said Thursday that April 5 all-party meeting on the bill was “crucial”.
“It’s a crucial meeting. Let’s wait for the outcome,” Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said here.

The meeting, convened by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is also leader of the house in the Lok Sabha, comes against the backdrop of the government’s assurance to hold consultations with political parties before the bill is tabled in the lower house of parliament.

The bill, which provides for 33 percent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, was passed by the Rajya Sabha last month amidst strong protests from the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), a section of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Bahujan Samaj Party. These parties have demanded a quota for weaker sections within 33 percent reservation for women.

Congress sources said the government will take a considered view on the date of tabling the bill after April 5 meeting.

They said the financial agenda, including demands for grants for various ministries and the finance bill were immediate priorities of the government, which will have to be wary of numbers in view of the opposition’s decision to bring cut motions.

The party sources said the government cannot force its way on the women’s reservation bill as the members opposing the bill were numerically far more in the Lok Sabha than in the Rajya Sabha.

“The parties opposing the bill have nearly 70 members. Marshals cannot be used in such a situation,” a Congress leader said, adding that many of the parties against the bill in its present form are extending outside support to the government.

Also, the Congress’ ally Trinamool Congress did not take part in the voting in the upper house of parliament.

The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha after seven members, who were earlier suspended for unruly behaviour, were evicted by marshals.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left parties, who support the women’s reservation bill, opposed use of marshals in removing the suspended members from the house before the bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha.