By IANS
New Delhi : The ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) will try to evolve a consensus among its partners to bring a bill that guarantees 33 percent seats for women in parliament and state assemblies.
The UPA will convene a meeting of its allies on the issue after March 20 when parliament takes inter-session break, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the Rajya Sabha Wednesday.
“Parliament will be dispersing March 20 for the inter-session recess. Soon after that I will hold this meeting,” Manmohan Singh said.
He was responding to specific assurance sought by Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)) members, Brinda Karat and Sitaram Yechury, after he spoke for little over an hour in the upper house on motion of thanks on the presidential address.
After the prime minister made a general assurance about the proposed women’s bill, Karat rose to seek a more specific commitment about the timings of the move.
“I understand the sentiments of the members. I cannot say what will be the outcome of our efforts. But I sincerely assure that we will call a meeting of political parties to discuss this,” said Manmohan Singh.