NEW DELHI: A demand for tabling the long-pending Women's Reservation Bill was made in both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday. While members sought its passage this session, the Government reiterated its support for the measure, which seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.

In the Rajya Sabha, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav and Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh stood up in protest when Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan observed that the entire House was in agreement on the issue.

Raising the subject during zero hour, CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat demanded that the Bill be debated this session itself. "Let there be amendments, but at least let it be tabled and debated."

The Bill was not a question of men versus women, she said. It was a question of democratic system. "This Lok Sabha has only eight per cent women members." Several members associated themselves with her but as soon as Mr. Khan said the entire House was in agreement, Mr. Yadav said: "This is wrong."

Yet to see light of day

BJP deputy leader Sushma Swaraj said the Bill was introduced during the Deve Gowda regime and it came up for discussion twice during the NDA rule but did not see the light of day during the UPA regime.

In the Lok Sabha, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta, raising the matter during zero hour, said the Government should not make the Bill a matter of political controversy. He drew the attention of the House to thousands of women staging a dharna at Jantar Mantar here demanding early passage of the Bill.Intervening, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi assured the members that there was "no going back" by the Government on its commitment to the Bill. However, as it was a Constitution Amendment Bill, the support of all sections was required. Home Minister Shivraj Patil was engaged in talks with various parties. But before the matter could be further discussed, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjourned the House for lunch.

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