Women's quota bill is shelved
The introduction of the controversial
women's quota bill was deferred indefinitely at the suggestion of
the ruling party leaders to enable the government to gain time to
arrive at a consensus, according to sources
Sources said the leaders who met Speaker G M C Balayogi were
initially veering round to the view that its introduction in the
House be delayed by two days following a suggestion made to this
effect by Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Laloo Prasad Yadav and
Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Sources who attended the meeting said it was at the
instance of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Lal Khurana and
Pramod Mahajan that the introduction of the bill was deferred for the
time being.
Several leaders who attended the meeting felt that the government
should complete the passage of the finance bills in the next few
days before any other business was taken up. In all probability, the
government might convene another round of all-party meeting on the
women's bill next Monday in a bid to arrive at a consensus.
Announcing the deferment in the House, Balayogi
said the decision was taken earlier during the day at a meeting of
the representatives of the political parties represented in the Lok
Sabha. It was decided at the meeting that the introduction of the
bill should be deferred so that the matter could be discussed again
between the parties and the leaders to find an amicable solution
acceptable to all sections in the House, he said.
Expressing anguish over the incidents in the House over the
introduction of the Constitution (Eightyfourth Amendment ) Bill
yesterday, Balayogi said, "If the best parliamentary traditions
are to be maintained'', this type of situation could not be
allowed. Therefore, he consulted the leaders of various political
parties to reach a consensus, he added.
Meanwhile, leader of the Opposition Sharad Pawar refuted the
contention that the Congress has shifted its stand on the Women's
Reservation Bill as was being made out by the BJP. He said
the Congress was never opposed to the introduction of the bill at
any stage. It has made it abundantly clear that it will press
amendments seeking quota for other backward classes and minorities
in the bill at the consideration stage.
In the Lok Sabha, earlier, Balayogi urged all
parties in the Lok Sabha to have further consultations to enable
the government to introduce the bill at the earliest.
Responding to the demand of Mamta Banerjee and others, the
Speaker said he was making this appeal considering the strong
sentiments expressed by the women members in the House.
When the House reassembled at 1700 hours after day-long adjournments, Banerjee and other
women members continued to shout slogans demanding the introduction
of the bill. If not introduced, they said they wanted a definite
assurance as to when it would be introduced. Women members
had forced a second adjournment till 1700 hours in the post-lunch session
of the Lok Sabha.
Khurana said the
government was ready to introduce the bill at any time.
The reassembling of the House after women members forced the
adjournment was marred by slogan shouting by
Banerjee and others from the treasury benches.
''We want justice, we want the Mahila bill,'' were the central point
of the slogans. Lady members from the Congress benches lent
support by remaining on their feet.
P M Sayeed, who was in the chair then, confessed that conducting the
House was extremely difficult with the clash of interests between the
lady members and the combine of Laloo Prasad Yadav (RJD) and
Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP).
Banerjee told the chair that the lady members would block
the proceedings if no assurance was coming forth on the date of
introduction of the bill.
Sumitra Mahajan (BJP) and Geeta Mukherjee (CPI) also
endorsed Banerjee's condition for restoring order in the House.
Sayeed was heard calling out to
Khurana to respond to the lady members. Though Khurana was
ready to say something, the women members did not allow him to speak.
Finally after about half an hour's turmoil, the chair adjourned
the House till 1700 hours.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister A B Vajpayee today indicated
that it would be difficult to pass the controversial Women's
Reservation Bill during the current session of Parliament in view of
some parties going back on their commitment.
The ruling coalition is, however, keen that the bill be adopted
this session itself, he maintained.
In an informal chat with newspersons after the Speaker announced
the decision to put on hold the introduction of the bill for the
time being, Vajpayee, however, declined to say whether the bill
will now be put in cold storage, in view of the widespread demand
for quota for other backward classes and minorities among women.
In an apparent reference to the shift in Congress stand on the issue,
the prime minister said the parties from whom the government
expected support for the bill have changed their position. They now
favour full-fledged deliberations before it was introduced in the
House, he said.
UNI
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