Unruly MPs hold up women's quota bill

New Delhi: Voting on a historic bill that reserves 33 percent of legislative seats for women was deferred till Tuesday after a dozen members opposing it tore up the document and hurled pieces at Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari.

The Constitution amendment bill was tabled in the Rajya Sabha amidst unruly scenes with members belonging to the Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtrtiya Janata Dal (SP) and an expelled member of the Janata Dal (United) almost attacking Ansari.

After five adjournments, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day at 1800 hours without the bill being taken up despite the government claiming that it had the numbers to carry the legislation through.

After repeated disruptions, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called a meeting of political parties supporting the bill where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said the proposed legislation should be discussed and then put to vote.

The Prime Minister is expected to hold an all-party meeting on Tuesday to discuss a way out for adopting the legislation.

The Yadavs’ threat

The SP and the RJD have decided to withdraw support to the Congress-led government, alleging that the bill doesn’t help “backward women”.

"We are not opposing the bill per se. We want, and the nation wants, that the reservation should be given to backward women who don't have resources. The real India should be empowered. Give them 50 percent reservation. We will not oppose that,” said RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

The two leaders said their parties would vote against the bill, as it does not provide reservation for Muslim women and those belonging to Other Backward Communities (OBCs).

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has decided to support the bill, accused the government of poor floor management in Parliament. Ravi Shankar Prasad, the party’s Rajya Sabha MP, demanded that there be a discussion on the bill.

“We want this bill to be passed with proper debate and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure this eventuality in the house. Let us try to trust the managerial ability of this government which is coming in to question with every passing hour,” said Prasad.

CPI-M leader Brinda Karat alleged the government cannot be trusted to get the bill passed after it “failed” to protect Ansari from unruly MPs.

House shame

At 1400 hours, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily tabled the bill before the Rajya Sabha amid unprecedented pandemonium.

SP members Nand Kishore Yadav and Kamal Akhtar were seen attempting to climb on to Ansari’s table. Yadav uprooted the mike and threw the stationery kept on Ansari's table. Security personnel shielded Ansari and prevented members from climbing on the table.

Akhtar climbed a table used by Rajya Sabha reporters and chanted slogans against the bill. Some members, including RJD's Rajniti Prasad, tore a copy of the bill and threw pieces towards Ansari.

Ansari adjourned the House till 1500 hours and engineers immediately fixed his mike.

When the house reassembled at 1800 hrs IST after five adjournments, Vice Chairman P J Kurien adjourned it till 11 a.m. Tuesday, when the bill is likely to be taken up for discussion.

(With inputs from IANS and PTI)