Updated on Thursday, March 11, 2010, 14:52 IST
Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: The stand-off over Women's Reservation Bill ended Thursday with government announcing that the proposed legislation would be brought in the Lok Sabha only after consultations with all sections.
The breakthrough came after SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, RJD leader Lalu Prasad and JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, the three strong opponents of the bill, met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and DMK leader T R Baalu also attended the meeting.
Pranab then appraised the Congress core group, comprising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi amongst others, of the views of the opponents.
As per reports, the core group agreed to hold discussions on the Women’s Bill after taking into account the need to pass the Finance Bill before the current session of the Parliament ends, four days from today on March 16.
Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, Pranab referred to the discussion he held with the opponents of the bill and said, “ During the meeting, some sort of assurance was sought on the progress of the Constitution Amendment Bill (Women's Reservation Bill) before bringing it to the Lok Sabha. “
“Government will complete the process of consultations with all concerned," he assured the house.
"I think, this assurance would assuage the feelings of all members and the business would be conducted smoothly," he said, when the House re-assembled after two adjournments on the issue.
Pranab had earlier in the day too assured the house that ‘all issues’ regarding the bill is open for discussion and that the government is not averse to holding an all-party meeting.
.
Now it is expected that the Bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha after April 12 when Parliament comes back from the month-long recess..
Clearly, the UPA government is, at the moment, preferring to keep its fingers crossed and wait for a more suitable situation as it is aware that any adverse development now might set the bill to the back burners.
Earlier in the day, Pranab had responded in detail - in the Parliament - to the accusations by Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Sharad Yadav that the bill is discriminatory against Dalits, OBCs and minorities, Pranab said, “The fact of the matter is that on this issue there are divergent views. There were discussions, we could not, unfortunately, reach at a conclusion, although various attempts were made.”
"I myself held several rounds of talks. Then Home Minister Shivraj Patil took meetings. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took meetings. Various attempts were made during UPA-I and NDA regimes to arrive at a consensus.
"But certain political parties took a particular view, some others took a different view. There was no convergence of views," Mukherjee said.
“You (Yadav trio) stated that an all-party meet be called. There is no harm in calling an all-party meet. This is a Constitution Amendment Bill which has to be passed with special majority and ratified by half of the states,” he stated.
"There are instances, one House had passed the Constitution Amendment Bill and the other House had rejected it," he said seeking to pacify the agitating members.
Pranab, however, took expectation to the continuing disruptions in both the houses of the Parliament over the issue, slamming the Yadavas, he said, “All these issues can be raised, can be debated and can be decided by the 543 members sitting here belonging to different political parties but opposition must allow the house conduct normal business. Nothing can be achieved by stalling the proceedings. Financial business has to be completed and there is a time schedule for it,” he added.
Adding, “All issues will be discussed before the introduction of the bill in the Lok Sabha. We will consult you”
Opponents protest
A response from the government was necessitated as today also the Rajya Sabha had to be adjourned over the issue. As soon as the Lok Sabha convened at 11 am, the Yadavs once again raised the tempo over their opposition to the bill.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav contended that the bill in its current form would benefit only women who have already made progress and ignore those who have been left behind.
"Those who have been pushed behind will be further pushed behind. We have to make provisions for reservation for Dalit, backward and Muslim women," Yadav said.
He said the Samajwadi Party was ready to support amendments to the Women's Reservation Bill.
As Yadav began to speak on price rise, there were suggestions from the BJP benches that he should not divert from the issue of women's reservation.
JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said there was restlessness among political activists across the country over the bill.
"This is a Constitution Amendment Bill. Heavens will not fall if you hold discussions with all parties," he said.
"Talk to everyone. Let leaders of all parties sit together and find a way out," he said.
He contended that nobody, except political activists, has the ability to understand the country better and the bill sought to negate their work carried over a lifetime.
"Before being brought to this House, there should be consensus on it," Yadav said.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad said that a solution to the current deadlock could be found if leaders of all parties meet.
Prasad said he had also called up Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the issue but did not specify whether there was any discussion.
No division over Bill: BJP
Meanwhile, the BJP has rubbished all reports of a division within its ranks over the bill. Party’s leader in the Lok Sabha Shushma Swaraj said that the BJP will issue a whip in favour of the bill when it comes for voting in the lower house.
It is obvious that the Congress has lost its enthusiasm in passing the Women's Reservations Bill after Muslims have objected to it. Congress, the creator and sustainer of Pakistan, can never be seen doing anything the Muslims dislike. They will now bring in amendments to the Bill to assure the Muslims that they still remain the premier appeasement party of India!
http://www.zeenews.com/news610297.html#
Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: The stand-off over Women's Reservation Bill ended Thursday with government announcing that the proposed legislation would be brought in the Lok Sabha only after consultations with all sections.
The breakthrough came after SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, RJD leader Lalu Prasad and JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, the three strong opponents of the bill, met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and DMK leader T R Baalu also attended the meeting.
Pranab then appraised the Congress core group, comprising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi amongst others, of the views of the opponents.
As per reports, the core group agreed to hold discussions on the Women’s Bill after taking into account the need to pass the Finance Bill before the current session of the Parliament ends, four days from today on March 16.
Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, Pranab referred to the discussion he held with the opponents of the bill and said, “ During the meeting, some sort of assurance was sought on the progress of the Constitution Amendment Bill (Women's Reservation Bill) before bringing it to the Lok Sabha. “
“Government will complete the process of consultations with all concerned," he assured the house.
"I think, this assurance would assuage the feelings of all members and the business would be conducted smoothly," he said, when the House re-assembled after two adjournments on the issue.
Pranab had earlier in the day too assured the house that ‘all issues’ regarding the bill is open for discussion and that the government is not averse to holding an all-party meeting.
.
Now it is expected that the Bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha after April 12 when Parliament comes back from the month-long recess..
Clearly, the UPA government is, at the moment, preferring to keep its fingers crossed and wait for a more suitable situation as it is aware that any adverse development now might set the bill to the back burners.
Earlier in the day, Pranab had responded in detail - in the Parliament - to the accusations by Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Sharad Yadav that the bill is discriminatory against Dalits, OBCs and minorities, Pranab said, “The fact of the matter is that on this issue there are divergent views. There were discussions, we could not, unfortunately, reach at a conclusion, although various attempts were made.”
"I myself held several rounds of talks. Then Home Minister Shivraj Patil took meetings. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took meetings. Various attempts were made during UPA-I and NDA regimes to arrive at a consensus.
"But certain political parties took a particular view, some others took a different view. There was no convergence of views," Mukherjee said.
“You (Yadav trio) stated that an all-party meet be called. There is no harm in calling an all-party meet. This is a Constitution Amendment Bill which has to be passed with special majority and ratified by half of the states,” he stated.
"There are instances, one House had passed the Constitution Amendment Bill and the other House had rejected it," he said seeking to pacify the agitating members.
Pranab, however, took expectation to the continuing disruptions in both the houses of the Parliament over the issue, slamming the Yadavas, he said, “All these issues can be raised, can be debated and can be decided by the 543 members sitting here belonging to different political parties but opposition must allow the house conduct normal business. Nothing can be achieved by stalling the proceedings. Financial business has to be completed and there is a time schedule for it,” he added.
Adding, “All issues will be discussed before the introduction of the bill in the Lok Sabha. We will consult you”
Opponents protest
A response from the government was necessitated as today also the Rajya Sabha had to be adjourned over the issue. As soon as the Lok Sabha convened at 11 am, the Yadavs once again raised the tempo over their opposition to the bill.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav contended that the bill in its current form would benefit only women who have already made progress and ignore those who have been left behind.
"Those who have been pushed behind will be further pushed behind. We have to make provisions for reservation for Dalit, backward and Muslim women," Yadav said.
He said the Samajwadi Party was ready to support amendments to the Women's Reservation Bill.
As Yadav began to speak on price rise, there were suggestions from the BJP benches that he should not divert from the issue of women's reservation.
JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said there was restlessness among political activists across the country over the bill.
"This is a Constitution Amendment Bill. Heavens will not fall if you hold discussions with all parties," he said.
"Talk to everyone. Let leaders of all parties sit together and find a way out," he said.
He contended that nobody, except political activists, has the ability to understand the country better and the bill sought to negate their work carried over a lifetime.
"Before being brought to this House, there should be consensus on it," Yadav said.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad said that a solution to the current deadlock could be found if leaders of all parties meet.
Prasad said he had also called up Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the issue but did not specify whether there was any discussion.
No division over Bill: BJP
Meanwhile, the BJP has rubbished all reports of a division within its ranks over the bill. Party’s leader in the Lok Sabha Shushma Swaraj said that the BJP will issue a whip in favour of the bill when it comes for voting in the lower house.
It is obvious that the Congress has lost its enthusiasm in passing the Women's Reservations Bill after Muslims have objected to it. Congress, the creator and sustainer of Pakistan, can never be seen doing anything the Muslims dislike. They will now bring in amendments to the Bill to assure the Muslims that they still remain the premier appeasement party of India!
http://www.zeenews.com/news610297.html#
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