Govt convenes all-party meet on Women's Bill

The government has convened an all-party meeting in New Delhi on Monday to find a way out of the impasse on the Women's Reservation Bill that has met with strong opposition from the Yadav trio, who make for a significant presence in the Lok Sabha.

The government has convened an all-party meeting in New Delhi on Monday to find a way out of the impasse on the Women's Reservation Bill that has met with strong opposition from the Yadav trio, who make for a significant presence in the Lok Sabha.

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Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is Leader of the Lok Sabha, has convened the meeting of all parties over the issue as government wants an early resolution of the deadlock.

The bill which has already been passed by Rajya Sabha is expected to be taken up for consideration in the Lower House when it resumes budget session on April 15.

The government is keen on pushing ahead with the bill but is said to be averse to using force for the purpose because of the stature of the opponents.

In the Rajya Sabha, marshals were used to remove obstructing members but the decision came in for severe attack later.

Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said last week that the government is going ahead with the bill in its present form in the Lok Sabha in the second phase of the Budget session beginning April 15. He denied that there would be any changes in the bill.

The opponents of the bill have made it clear that the bill in its present form would be opposed tooth and nail and they may be open for discussion if the government comes with dilution of the percentage of reservation or leaving the quota for decision by parties.

The three parties SP, JD (U) and RJD, whose leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sharad Yadav and Lalu Prasad are members in the Lok Sabha, have indicated that they will oppose the bill tooth and nail in the House.