Women’s Bill moved in RS amid unprecedented pandemonium

The landmark Women's Reservation Bill was moved for consideration in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

The historic bill providing for 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies was on Monday moved in the Rajya Sabha for consideration amid unprecedented pandemonium with some SP members trying to attack Chairman Hamid Ansari.

SP and RJD members created unruly scenes since morning,forcing repeated adjournments of the House but the government,banking on the support from BJP and the Left,appeared determined to get the bill passed on the International Women’s Day on Monday irrespective of what the opponents did.

After two adjournments since the House met for the day,when the Rajya Sabha re-assembled for the third time at 2 PM,Law Minister Veerappa Moily moved the bill for consideration,triggering unprecedented scenes. Nand Kishore Yadav and Kamal Akhtar of SP led the combined offensive of his party and RJD. Yadav tried to attack the Chairman by attempting to climb on to the podium.

Story continues below this ad

He uprooted the mike and threw the stationery placed on Ansari’s table even as some other members were seen threatening to reach Ansari’s podium. The security attendants immediately swung into action and shielded the Chairman to prevent the agitated members from climbing on the table.

Akhtar,meanwhile,climbed the table of the Rajya Sabha reporters in front of the Chairman,chanting slogans against the bill,while some members,including RJD’s Rajniti Prasad,tore the copy of the bill and threw pieces towards the chair. Within minutes,Ansari adjourned the House till 1500 hours. Later when Rajya Sabha met,it was adjourned till 6 PM amid protests against the womens reservation bill. Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day.

EAM Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Rubio hold bilateral discussions in New York

India58 min ago

Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar and US Senator Rubio met in New York to discuss the 25% tariff on Indian oil imposed by Trump. This was their first in-person meeting since the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. India and the US also began talks for a trade agreement, with positive discussions during a recent visit by US trade officials to India.

View all shorts

Live Blog