Criticising the government for deferring the Women’s Reservation Bill, the CPI-M today said that they had urged the Speaker not to prorogue the Budget Session and get the Bill passed in a special session of Parliament.‘‘Today, we requested the Speaker not to prorogue the House so that a special session of Parliament can be called to get the Women’s Bill passed after the June 16 all-party meeting,’’ CPI-M’s leader Somnath Chatterjee said. Lashing out at Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for trying to wash her hands off the Bill, Chatterjee said, ‘‘It is the duty of the government to see the bill through. They are just passing the buck and playing a dubious game.’’ He denied that the Left and Congress had opposed the use of marshals against Opposition members to get the Bill passed, ‘‘Such a question never arose. These are just wild rumours.’’ Asked whether the Left parties are amenable to amendments to the bill, Chatterjee refused to give a direct answer: ‘‘I cannot reply to hypothetical questions.’’
