Progress in consensus talks on Women's Bill: PM

New Delhi, Aug 3: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today told a delegation of women's organisations and women MPs that there was progress in talks with differing allies in the ruling UPA for consensus on the Women's Reservation Bill.

Dr Singh said he was hopeful that the Bill that would guarantee 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies would be introduced in Parliament ''as soon as possible'', according to All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) General Secretary Sudha Sundararaman, who was part of the delegation that also included CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat and senior Congress leader Mohsina Kidwai.

Telugu Desam Party MP Durga Devi, CPI (M) MPs Sathi Devi, Sujatha and Jyotirmoy Sikar were also part of the delegation.

The women's organisations and women MPs from different political parties had met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar yesterday.

The meetings coincide with a three-day joint dharna by ten women's organisations that began here yesterday.

Leaders of AIDWA, National Federation of Indian Women, All India Women's Conference, Muslim Women's Forum, Forum for Rights of Children and Centre for Women's Development Studies were part of the delegation that met the Prime Minister.

The women's representatives also met Communication and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran to seek support of his party DMK for the Bill.

The dharna was addressed today by National Commission for Women Members Malini Bhattacharya and Manju Snehlata, Guild of Service's Mohini Giri and Mahila Dakshata Samiti's Ranjana Kumari.

Several organisations like CITU, All India Kisan Sabha, All India Insurance Employees Federation and Delhi Nurses Federation extended solidarity.

UNI