Cong, BJP, Left welcome women's bill

Congress, Left parties and opposition BJP today welcomed the introduction of a bill, proposing 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures, in the Rajya Sabha but the Samajwadi Party said it will oppose the measure. SP members, who tore copies of the bill introduced by Law Minister H R Bhardwaj in the Upper House, said they would continue to oppose it till the deprived sections and minorities get their share of quota within the proposed 33 per cent reservation for women.

Describing the bill as an important measure to end gender bias, Bhardwaj said "I am very happy it will lead to one third reservation for women. It is a landmark step in India's history." Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said "other parties have talked about it but we have actually introduced the bill. We cleared it in the cabinet and introduced in the Rajya Sabha. Now the bill will not lapse." CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said "I congratulate the UPA for introducing the Women's Reservation Bill. I hope the government will ensure the passage of the bill in the same spirit in which it was introduced." Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj told reporters here, "I am happy that the bill is introduced and also happy that it is introduced in the Rajya Sabha because it will not lapse now." Taking a swipe at opponents of the bill, she said "it is unfortunate that there is not even an iota of change in the mindset of some parties".

Karat said the scenes witnessed in the Rajya Sabha today were a testimony to the overwhelming majority the legislation enjoys in the House. "The standing committee should deliberate and finalise in a time bound manner as any delay will kill the legislation," she said. 

On the unruly scenes in the Rajya Sabha, Swaraj said "such scenes could have been averted if the government had held consultation with all parties and tried to arrive at a consensus."  "Two sessions are there before the general elections scheduled for next year and I appeal the government to ensure that the bill is passed in the monsoon session itself so that women can get reservation in the next general election," the BJP leader said. Congress member Prabha Thakur congratulated the government for fulfilling the dreams of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi.

Samajwadi Party member Abu Asim Azmi said his party will contuinue to oppose the bill until reservation is ensured for women belonging to OBC, Dalits and Muslims.  "We will raise this issue when the bill comes up for discussion in the standing committee also," he said.

Bhardwaj said the legislation introduced in the Rajya Sabha was a "base bill" and there will be lot of discussions and suggestions. On the unruly scenes in the House, Bhardwaj said he was protected by a "ring of women members" when Samajwadi Party members charged towards him and snatched a copy of the bill from him.