Congress women from all over the country organised a Parliament march demanding tabling of the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill in the current session. ‘‘There will be no compromise on the demand for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures,’’ the women led by All India Mahila Congress Committee president Rita Bahuguna Joshi, senior leaders Mohsina Kidwai, Margaret Alva, Ambika Soni and Sheila Dikshit declared. ‘‘The BJP is not sincere in its intentions. It wants unanimity on the issue. But in a democracy that is not always possible,’’ Soni said. ‘‘If the BJP is sincere, let it put the Bill to vote in Parliament or convene a joint session.”Rubbishing BJP’s new proposal on double membership, she alleged that ‘‘these are just ways to get rid of the Bill’’. ‘‘It was after a long struggle that the present Bill was taken up in Parliament. Any talk of changes will not be accepted,’’ Soni said. Margaret Alva challenged the BJP to put the Bill to vote: ‘‘The Congress and the Left have expressed support to the Bill. It should be listed and passed in this session.’’Lok Janshakti Party workers also organised a protest march today against Centre’s policy on SCs and STs.
