By IANS,
New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has called an all-party meeting Wednesday to discuss the Women’s Reservation Bill ahead of parliament’s monsoon session, giving hope to parties that the legislation would be passed by the lower house soon.
The Congress Tuesday said it was committed to the passage of the bill and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it was the latter’s responsibility to ensure that it was approved by the lower house.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K. Bansal said the government was committed to the passage of the bill.
“The government’s seriousness on the issue showed when it got it (the bill) into Rajya Sabha and also took a little unpleasant dose to see that it is passed,” Bansal said.
“It is our concern and endeavour to bring everyone and every party on board to see that the bill is passed,” he said.
BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told IANS: “We hope the meeting called by the speaker will smoothen the rough edges.”
“The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) had promised the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in its 100 day agenda. The government has to show how serious it is,” Sitharaman said.
The bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabah March 8 last year, provides reservation of 33 percent for women in parliament and state assemblies.
The Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Janata Dal-United are among the main parties opposed to the bill.
Marshals were called in to evict some protesting members from these parties ahead of voting on the bill in the Rajya Sabha last year. The Bahujan Samaj Party chose to walk out before the voting.
All major political parties in the Lok Sabha, including the Congress, the BJP and Left parties are supporting the bill.
The Congress has 207 members, the BJP 115 and the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) together have 20 members, taking the total of supporters of the bill to 342, way above the two-thirds majority in the 544-member house.
“In the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling party is not in majority, the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) partners ensured that the bill is passed. In the Lok Sabha, where the ruling party is dominating, it should make sure there is better coordination among the members and the bill is passed,” Sitharaman added.
Congress spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Jayanthi Natarajan, meanwhile, said that the party wanted the bill to be passed as soon as possible.
“We have always demanded that the Women’s Reservation Bill should be passed as soon as possible. The UPA government, and our (party) president Sonia Gandhi has given it high priority, brought it to parliament and even got it passed (in Rajya Sabha),” Natarajan added.