Women's bill to go through Lok Sabha before March 16

New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) The government intends to push through the women's reservation bill in the Lok Sabha before the house adjourns March 16 for a three-week break, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K. Bansal said here
Wednesday.

Setting to rest speculation about the fate of the contentious bill that gives 33 percent representation to women in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures and was passed by the Rajya Sabha Tuesday, Bansal said the bill would be passed in the lower house before March 16.

"That's our intention," Bansal told IANS.

He also said that the government would consider revoking the suspension of the seven Rajya Sabha MPs if they expressed their regrets to Chairman Hamid Ansari.

"It (the suspension) was a well considered action as the (the members) had insulted the dignity of the house. The minimum thing is to go to the chairman," Bansal told reporters.

The seven MPs include four from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and one each from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Lok Janshakti Party and the Janata Dal-United.

The government also expressed confidence that it would manage to push the bill through the Lok Sabha, despite opposition from the RJD and SP.

The Trinamool Congress also abstained from the vote and has expressed its unhappiness with the United Progressive Alliance government

Why was there was no reservation for women in the Rajya Sabha, party chief Mamata Banerjee asked reporters Wednesday.

Banerjee said her party supported the women's bill in principle but would discuss the stand to be taken in the Lok Sabha when the bill comes up in the lower house.

"The government will manage to get the support of all its allies when it comes in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passing. We will manage the family," Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily said when asked about the Trinamool.

Parliament will adjourn March 16 for a three-week break and will meet April 12. The session concludes May 7.