33 % quota for women in Rajasthan Assembly: Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday announced that his government will bring in a proposal (Bill) to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the state legislative assembly.

Stating that the cabinet has in principle decided to pass a resolution seeking 33% reservation for women in the legislative assembly, Gehlot told reporters, "Congress president wants the resolution to be passed in five Congress-ruled states. Earlier, our UPA chief made efforts to get this bill passed but it got stuck in Rajya Sabha".

No specific date

He said the Cabinet meeting held late Thursday night decided in principle to introduce the Bill and get it passed in the Rajasthan Assembly. He, however, did not specify if the Bill would be passed in the current assembly session.

Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said the Bill granting reservation to women was introduced in Parliament and Congress is committed to get it passed in the Upper House. "The Congress party wants to pass a resolution in state assemblies where the party has formed a government".

Meanwhile, in the assembly, the BJP demanded crop loan waiver in total and disrupted the proceedings. Gehlot, replying to a question on on crop loans said, "BJP is trying to take political benefit in the name of farmers, that too as a face saving exercise since their government failed on this count. After coming to power, we have assured Rs 2 lakh crop loan waiver of farmers, taken from any bank."