8 mar : Voting on the women’s reservation bill in the Rajya Sabha could not take place after it was moved by the govt as the opponents belonging to SP, RJD and an expelled member of the JD(U) tore off the copies of the bill.
Samajwadi Party and RJD withdrew support to the UPA government on the issue of women reservation. Voting and debate is likely to be on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to call an all-party meeting on the issue on Tuesday.
The House saw three adjournments on the same issue before the Chair called it a day as members opposed to the bill remained unrelenting.
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and JD(U) President Sharad Yadav led their slogan-shouting members into the well each time the House was called to order.
At one time, SP member Shailendra Kumar tore some legislative documents and threw pieces of paper into the well, even as the Chair took up the listed business.
Lone member of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen Asaduddin Owaisi too joined the protest, raising slogans against the bill and rushed to the well.
As pandemonium continued, the Chair adjourned the House for the day.
Similar scenes were witnessed throughout the day, as the opponents of the bill in its present form demanded a quota within the quota for OBCs, SCs, STs and minorities.
When repeated appeals of the Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari failed to bring order in the House, he called for adjournment till 4 PM.
As soon as the Lok Sabha re-assembled at 12 noon, after the first adjournment till this time, Members from the Samajwadi party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Bhujan Samaj Party made an attempt to raise the issue.
However, Speaker Meira Kumar, prevailed upon them calling out the agenda.
This related to tabling of papers by some Members and Ministers, introduction of Bills and the appointment to various Boards under the control of the Central Government.
The Speaker then asked that matters under Rule 377, namely those that are listed for Zero Hour, be taken up.
The Members were in no mood to relent and came to the well of the House shouting slogans relating to their demand.
Uproarious scenes followed with nothing being heard in the din.
The Speaker continued to attend to the papers that were brought on the table.
After a while both Mr Yadav and Mr Prasad too came to the well shouting and clamouring for reservation for women who are poor, dalit and Muslims.
Pandemonium prevailed for nearly 15 minutes, compelling the Chair to adjourn the House for the second time in succession.
The Women’s Reservation Bill has to be moved in Parliament soon.
Earlier, similar scenes prevailed in the Lower House which resulted in its adjournment till 1200 hrs.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the fifth time on Monday following pandemonium as the parties opposed to the Women’s Reservation Bill pre-empted its passage and stalled the proceedings demanding the implementation of the Ranganath Misra Commission report.
As soon as the House re-assembled at 1200 hrs after the first adjournment, MPs belonging to Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (United) and BSP, apprehending that the government would move the Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2008 providing for 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, tried to deflect attention by moving into the well shouting slogans demanding that the Rangnath Misra Commission report providing reservation for minorities be implemented.
Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan asked the ministers to lay papers on the table.
Following this Minister of State for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath started making a statement on the International Women’s Day about the measures being taken by the UPA government to empower women of the country especially its endeavour to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill.
However, nothing could be heard in the din as the parties opposing the Bill continued shouting slogans.
The Deputy Chairman tried to pacify the members, but when they continued shouting slogans, he adjourned the House till 1400 hrs.
Law Minister M Veerappa Moily is scheduled to move for consideration and passage the Women’s Reservation Bill, which has been hanging fire for about 14 years, in the Rajya Sabha on Monday to mark the centenary celeberation of the International Women’s Day.