LS adjourned twice amid protests over Women's Bill

Noisy scenes and vociferous protests in the Lok Sabha by opponents of the Women's Reservation Bill led to two adjournments during the Question Hour.

Noisy scenes and vociferous protests in the Lok Sabha by opponents of the Women's Reservation Bill led to two adjournments during the Question Hour on Tuesday.

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No sooner the House assembled for Question Hour than SP, RJD and JD (U) members trooped into the Well protesting against the government's move to take up the bill for consideration in the Rajya Sabha.

Speaker Meira Kumar continued with the Question Hour amid sloganeering by members of these parties who were demanding that provisions of the bill should also have quotas for Dalits, OBCs and Muslims.

As protests grew louder following SP chief Mulayam Singh, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and JD(U) President Sharad Yadav's presence in the Well, two Marshals took positions on either side of the Speaker's table to prevent any unruly incident.

Mulayam Singh Yadav was seen having a word with Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

With members showing no signs of relenting, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes and called leaders of all parties for a meeting.

As protests continued when the House met again, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till noon.