House to take up women146;s quota Bill this session

After the UPA dinner tonight, which was also attended by the Left allies, the Government announced that the women reservation Bill would be introduced in the later half of the Winter session of Parliament.

After the UPA dinner tonight, which was also attended by the Left allies, the Government announced that the women reservation Bill would be introduced in the later half of the Winter session of Parliament.

The announcement came after key UPA member and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav told Left leaders that he had nothing against the Bill as long as he was allowed to put across his views before the Standing Committee and when it is discussed. After the introduction, the committee will go into the various clauses of the Bill and consider any possible amendments moved by political parties. Of the 17 legislations that are slated to come up this session, the Government is keen to pass three 8212; the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial amendment Bill, the Indian Telegraph amendment Bill which is an ordinance and the Constitution Schedule Tribe Order amendment Bill 8212; in the next few days.

A decision on the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill is yet to be taken as a meeting on the Bill was postponed today.

Despite a bit of a goof-up, the Government is keen to have a four-hour discussion on the Panchayati Raj report and one on the internal security issues 8212; for which the BJP is quite keen 8212; in the next two days. Both the Houses would also discuss the issue of price rise by next week.

At the Business Advisory Committee meetings of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, the Government agreed to have the issue of Arunachal Pradesh discussed in the perspective of the Chinese Ambassador8217;s recent comment. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said there would a special mention on Arunachal in the RS, while in the Lok Sabha it would be discussed during the zero hour. The parties unanimously decided to address the issue of the Supreme Court ordered sealing drive that is going on in Delhi jointly but not before the court gives its final decision.

The new Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee would be briefing both the Houses on the current status of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal and also on the Chinese President8217;s visit.