Women's team calls on Lalu to press for passage of Reservation B

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) Concerned by the inordinate delay in the tabling of the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament, a joint delegation of women's groups today met Railway Minister Lalu Prasad to press for their demand.

The delegation, led by CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat, also submitted a memorandum to Mr Prasad, who is opposed to the bill seeking 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.

They urged the Minister to ensure that the Bill is introduced in the ongoing Winter session of Parliament.

''The minister gave us a patient hearing but failed to give any concrete assurance about the issue,'' AIDWA General Secretary Sudha Sundararaman said.

The memorandum urged the Railway Minister to ''do everything in your power to ensure that the Bill is passed so that democratic institutions in our country become even more representative than they are''.

The delegation comprised representatives from AIDWA, NFIW, YWCA, CWDS, JWP, Guild of Service and Forces.

The Women's Reservation Bill was earlier introduced in 1996 in the Lok Sabha but lapsed as it failed to find time for discussion -- facing stiff opposition from various quarters. It was later referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee where no consensual outcome was achieved.

UNI NR SSC KN1736