Rajya Sabha MPs appeal for passage of Women's Reservation Bill

New Delhi: Cutting across party lines, the members in Rajya Sabha, made a fervent appeal for early passage of the legislation to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state assemblies on Tuesday.

It may be noted that while the Rajya Sabha had passed the Women's Reservation Bill six years ago, the bill has since been pending in Lok Sabha.

To mark the Women's Day on Tuesday, the Rajya Sabha decided to allow all women law-makers, who had given notices to raise Zero Hour mentions, the first chance.

Congress members took credit of getting the bill passed in Rajya Sabha during the UPA rule on 9 March, 2010 and wondered what the present government was doing when it had absolute majority in the Lok Sabha.

Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien suggested a discussion on the women's reservation issue so that an 'indirect pressure' could be exerted for passage of the legislation in the Lower House. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government was ready for a discussion on the issue.