LS adjourned abruptly on Women's Reservation Bill

New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today adjourned the proceedings of the House abruptly during zero hour following an uproar in the House over the Women's Reservation Bill which seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in both Houses of Parliament and state legislatures.

The issue was raised during zero hour by Mr Gurudas Dasgupta, who urged the House to go ahead with the Bill without waiting for evolving ''unanimity'' on the issue, and his contention found favour with members from across the political spectrum.

Mr Dasgupta also wanted the government to hold public consultations with the parties, instead of in-camera discussions, so that the country would know who were against reservation for women.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said the government and the Congress were ''second to none'' in their commitment to ensure the passage of the Bill in Parliament.

However, since this would involve Constitutional amendment, two-thirds majority would be needed for the passage of the Bill.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil ''is actively involved'' in consultations with various political parties to muster enough support. ''The government will not go back on its commitment,'' he said.

BJP Deputy Leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra disputed Mr Dasmunsi's remarks, stating that the Home Minister had done nothing for more than a year now and wanted to know how long the government would take on the issue.

Several other members were also on their feet to make their points on the issue.

Sensing the mood of the House, the Speaker, who had called the name of Mr Yogi Adithyanath (BJP) asking him to raise the issue for which he had given notice, adjourned till 1400 hrs the proceedings at 1305 hrs. Earlier, he had announced that the House would sit till 1330 hrs to enable a large number of members to raise matters of urgent public importance for which they had given notice.

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