Women's Bill put to vote in Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha on Tuesday put to vote the women's quota bill reserving a third of seats in parliament and state assemblies for women, amid vocal acrimony and dissent.

Earlier, Cracking a whip on disruptive MPs, Rajya Sabha suspended seven members for the remaining part of the Budget session for their unruly behaviour in the House over the Women's Reservation Bill.

The suspended members are Subhash Yadav (RJD), Sabir Ali (LJP), Veerpal Singh Yadav, Nand Kishore Yadav, Amir Alam Khan and Kamal Akhtar (all SP), and Ejaz Ali (unattached), who had yesterday tried to attack Chairman Hamid Ansari and created unprecedented pandemonium in the Upper House.

They had indulged in unruly scenes as soon as Law Minister Veerappa Moily moved the Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill that provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

The motion for their suspension was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prithviraj Chavan and was passed by voice vote.

The action against members under Rule 256 was taken for showing total "disregard for dignity of Council and authority of the Chair" by obstructing the business of the House.
The rule under which the seven members were suspended does not allow any adjournment or debate.

After their suspension, the House was adjourned by Ansari till 2 PM, for the second time in the day.

After their suspension, members squatted in the Well and refused to leave. They were seen sitting there till the press gallery was cleared.

Proceedings in the Lok Sabha too were disrupted by members of SP, RJD and JD-U forcing three adjournments till 2 PM.

When the Lok Sabha re-assembled at 2 PM, similar scenes were witnessed leading to the fourth adjournment of the House.

SP and RJD members were heard complaining that the measure was against the weaker sections.

As pandemonium continued, Francisco Sardinha, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House till 4 PM.