Impasse over Women's Reservation Bill: Rajya Sabha adjourned

New Delhi, Mar 9 (ANI): The Rajya Sabha was adjourned within minutes of reconvening on Tuesday as members began to shout slogans against the Women's Reservation Bill.

Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House till noon.

Earlier, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav, who are opposing the Women's Reservation Bill met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

The leaders asked Dr Manmohan Singh to defer Women's Bill and call an all-party meeting to evolve consensus.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, the leaders said that the Women's Bill in its current form cannot be pushed through the Parliament.

The SP and the RJD, two regional parties who account for 26 seats on Monday decided to withdraw support to the UPA Government over the Women's Reservation Bill.

While the Congress-led coalition still has a majority with 272 seats in the upper house of Parliament, the withdrawal gives the government less breathing room over key pending economic legislations. (ANI)