CPI dares Cong to get Women Reservation Bill passed

New Delhi, May 6 (UNI) The CPI today asked the Congress to prove its credentials on the Women Reservation Bill by getting it passed by a special session of Parliament next month, failing which it would be construed as a "mere stunt".

The government introduced the Bill, providing reservation of one-third of seats for women in Parliament and state Legislatures in the Rajya Sabha today amid high drama during which Samajwadi Party members tried to snatch its copies from the hands of Law Minister H R Bhardwaj.

Dubbing the last-minute introduction of the Bill "a mere mockery", CPI senior leader Gurudas Dasgupta said if the Congress was really serious about the Bill, it would have tabled it much earlier so that a proper discussion was held on it.

"It was done on the last day knowing well that there will be no discussion," he added.

On behaviour of SP and other members in the House, the Communist leader said; "It's a shameful behaviour.... now it is for the Chairman (of the House) to take action on vandalism." While appealing to political parties to uphold Parliamentary norms, Mr Dasgupta said it was imperative to ensure the supramacy of the supreme institution and also to prevent the country from sliding into "banana republic".

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