RS nod for Women’s Bill

New Delhi: In a gesture that could bring cheers to millions of women in the country, the Rajya Sabha, on Tuesday, passed the Women’s Reservation Bill that provides for 33 per cent representation to women in Parliament and state assemblies. The final vote read 186-1.

The session saw much din and bustle forcing three adjournments. The session also saw seven members being suspended for disruptive action. Finally, when the House took up the debate at 3 pm, the path was cleared. Before the discussion began, the Chairman put the Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, granting 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, to voice vote but later called for a debate on it. Chairman Hamid Ansari put the bill to voice vote and then called for division of votes. Disruptive elements in the form of Subhash Yadav (RJD), Sabir Ali (LJP), Veerpal Singh Yadav, Nand Kishore Yadav, Amir Alam Khan and Kamal Akhtar (all SP), and Ejaz Ali (Unattached) made proceedings tough, but normalcy was restored after they were evicted.

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