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Rajya Sabha passes Women’s Reservation Bill
Despite vociferous opposition, the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the historic Women’s Reservation Bill that reserves 33 per cent of legislative seats in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.
The Bill was passed with a thumping majority of 186 'Ayes' and only 1 'No'. There were no votes in absentia.
This is two-third majority which is required for the amendment.
After the discussion, the RS Chairperson put it to a voice vote and the Bill was passed unanimously. BSP pulled out of voting after V Moily replied to the discussion.
In a dramatic sequence of events after the house reconvened at 3 pm, Chairman Hamid Ansari –despite protests from the suspended RJD and SP MPs –carried out a voice vote seeking consent for the adoption of the motion for voting on the bill.
After the motion was adopted, the Chairman put the bill to vote. However, as it is a Constitution Amendment (108th) Bill, it can be only cleared after four rounds of voting in its favour.
A Constitution amendment needs a two-thirds majority in voting requiring the support of 155 MPs in Rajya Sabha for its passage. The bill has clear backing of at least 165 MPs in the House with an effective strength of 233.
To bring some semblance of order in the house the protesting MPs were physically evicted from the well of the house by marshals.
There are reports that one of the protesting MP Kamal Akhtar of the Samajwadi Party first resisted his eviction and then asked for a glass of water only to break the glass and threaten the house that he will harm himself if the bill is put to vote. He was later evicted using force.
The Bharatiya Janata Party added to the pandemonium by protesting the government's move to put the Bill to vote without a debate, forcing Ansari to agree to a debate on the issue.
BJP offers unequivocal support
Senior BJP politician and Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley then opened the debate by retreating his party’s support to the bill.
“I would like to be a party to a great history in the making. Let me say on the behalf of my party that we unequivocally support the Women’s Reservation Bill,” Jaitley said.
However, he condemned the disruptions and unruly scenes created by the opposing MPs. “The privilege of introducing a great bill has been diluted by shameful and unruly developments on the floor of the House,” he said.
“We offer our full support to the Bill but we certainly condemn the tactics behind it. The politics of ideas must be translated into representation. It is indeed a great honour to ring in this revolution, “Jaitley said.
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