House to be adjourned today, to meet soon for 'important bill': Kiren Rijiju in Rajya Sabha

On Thursday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha that the House will be adjourned and reconvened to discuss a "very important" bill, amid indications by the government to a bill to increase seats in the Lok Sabha to implement reservation for women in the legislature.

The Budget Session of the Parliamnet began on January 28, and is scheduled to conclude on April 2.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh asked about the government's plan during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha.

Responding the Ramesh, Rijiju said that the Rajya Sabha would take up the the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill for passing on Thursday.

He stated, "We have certain important issues, we have shared this with the Opposition also. We are going to have a very important bill in next 2-3 weeks".

"Today, government will propose for the House to be adjourned, and we will meet very soon; purpose is known to the members," he informed.

Ramesh, however, said that the Opposition has demanded that the all-party meeting that the government intends to call should be held once the assembly elections are over on April 29.

Rijiju answered that the government is bound to fulfil its promise given to the women of the nation.

The government has been holding back channel talks with the Opposition to bring at least two bills to implement the women's reservation law and delink delimitation from the Census to increase seats in the Lok Sabha from the present 546 to 861.

Meanwhie, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Khare said that the Congress is in support of reservation for women in the legislature, but also emphsised that the proposed bills are important and have long-term implications.

He also claimed that the government is trying to gain political mileage by bringing the Bills as states are going to the polls.

However, Rijiju denied the charge and said the issue should not be politicised.