Cabinet meet today to consider women's reservation

New Delhi, May 5 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened an emergency Cabinet meeting this evening amid speculation that the much-delayed Women's Reservation Bill is its single-point agenda.

The meeting will take place at 2100 hrs at the official residence of Dr Singh at 7 Race Course Road, an official spokesperson said without disclosing the issues that would come up for its consideration.

Official sources, however, said the Cabinet would discuss the controversial Bill so that it could be introduced in Parliament before the end of the ongoing Budget session this week.

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 is aimed at providing 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies. The move had become controversial after some parties sought quota-in-qouta for women from backward and minority communities.

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