Women's quota bill put to vote in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday put the historic Women's Reservation Bill that reserves 33 per cent of legislative seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women after nine adjournments in two days to vote.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which had already said that its MPs would vote in favour of the Women's Reservation Bill, protested the Government's move to put the Bill to vote without a debate.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari then allowed BJP MP and Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley to open the debate on the Bill.

Jaitley started by saying that even though the BJP supported the bill but he was against the manner in which the Government tried to put the bill to vote without debate.

"I appeal to all those opposing the women reservation bill to re-think their stand; several countries have given reservation to women. About 15 years from now we will realise that this bill was quite successful in giving representation to women. At present there is no provision of any reservation in Parliament except for SC and ST," said Jaitley.

"We are going to make a history by passing this bill. I support this law but also condemn what happened in the House today. Those opposing the bill should also be given a chance to vote against this bill. Those who oppose the bill should allow the house to be run smoothly," he said while concluding his speech.

Congress MP Jayanthi Natarajan said that the bill is a historic one and thanked her party President and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for bringing up the bill.

"I want to thank Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister and the entire UPA for bringing this historic legislation to vote. No party could do this for 60 years. The Congress President and the Prime Minister have fulfilled their promise," said Jayanthi.

She also apologised for the scenes that were witnessed in the House on Tuesday when marshals had to be called in to evict seven suspended MPs.

Earlier on Tuesday, furious at the continuous disruptions over the Women's Reservation Bill, Ansari suspended the seven opposition MPs for the remaining part of the session and adjourned the House till 1500 hrs IST. But the MPs continued to sit near his podium.

When the House reconvened at 1500 hrs IST after two adjournments, marshals were called in and the MPs were forcefully evicted from the Rajya Sabha.