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Uproar over let-down on women's bill

Special Correspondent

Rajya Sabha adjourned twice on last day

Congress members join in demand for government statement We didn't even see copy of resolution: Sushma

NEW DELHI: On the last day of the winter session, the Rajya Sabha saw women members from all parties raise the issue of legislation to reserve seats for women in Parliament, leading to noisy scenes and two adjournments in the morning.

Zero hour

While question hour went off relatively smoothly, trouble started as soon as Deputy Chairman K. Rehman Khan asked Sushma Swaraj (Bharatiya Janata Party) to speak on the issue during zero hour.

Women members including from the Congress stood up and began demanding a statement from the Government.

With no response coming, Brinda Karat (Communist Party of India- Marxist), S. G. Indira (AIADMK) and V. Saroja (Telugu Desam Party) entered the well. Mabel Rebello, Prema Cariappa. Alka Balram, Prabha Thakur (all Congress), Ms. Swaraj, Najma Heptullah and Maya Singh of the BJP kept raising the demand from their benches.

``Enter the well''

Ms. Karat called upon the BJP members also to enter the well but Ms. Swaraj said, "Why should we enter the well when we have been permitted to speak?'' Mr. Khan soon adjourned the House for 10 minutes.

The uproar continued when it reassembled with each side making its own demands, leading Mr. Khan to observe, "there is no unanimity among ladies."

Finally Ms. Swaraj was asked to make herself heard above the din. She said the women felt let down as far from the tabling of the Bill as promised by the Government, "we did not even get to see a copy of the resolution. I deplore the Government for this behaviour.''

Unrelenting

The women members were unrelenting when Mr. Khan asked Digvijay Singh (Janata Dal-United) to speak on the issue, forcing a second adjournment for half hour.

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