Cabinet clears Women's Reservation Bill
New Delhi, May 5 (UNI) The Cabinet is understood to have cleared the Women's Reservation Bill, aimed at providing 33 per cent quota for women in Parliament and state legislatures, at an emergency meeting tonight.
The Bill is likely to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow.
''Whatever decision was taken today would be conveyed to the Rajya Sabha tomorrow,'' an official spokesperson told reporters after the meeting.
The proposed Bill was on the agenda of the Cabinet, she said but refused to give the details stating that the Rajya Sabha had the right to know the decision first.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had convened the meeting this evening which had the single-point agenda to discuss the Bill.
The meeting took place at 2100 hrs at the official residence of Dr Singh at 7 Race Course Road.
Dr Singh had, a couple of days ago, disclosed that his government would table the Bill in the current session. He had given this assurance to CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan when the left leader called on him with a party delegation.
The Bill had become controversial after some parties sought quota-in-quota for women from backward and minority communities.
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