The government has convened a meeting of floor leaders of all parties on April 5 to discuss the Women’s Reservation Bill, sources said on Wednesday. The meeting would be chaired by Finance Minister and Leader of Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee.
The meeting has been fixed in accordance with the assurance given by Mukherjee to the LS on March 11 that the government would consult "all concerned before bringing" the Bill into the Lower House. The assurance was intended to temporarily mollify Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP) , Sharad Yadav (JD-U) and Lalu Prasad Yadav (RJD) who were stalling proceedings to ensure a smooth passage of urgent financial business. However, while promising consultations, it had not undertaken to consider changes in the Constitution Amendment Bill, which has been already passed by Lok Sabha.
In a telling comment, Law Minister Veerappa Moily had said on Tuesday that the government will go ahead with the Bill in its present form in the second leg of the Budget session starting April 15. In view of this, the government may at the April 5 meet try working out procedural details to avoid a re-play of what happened in Rajya Sabha when the Bill was passed. Most parties, including the BJP, have opposed use of marshals to throw out members obstructing the proceedings. Among the three principal formations backing the Bill -- Congress, BJP and Left parties -- the BJP has indicated that it isa receptive to any fresh suggestions. “We will go to any all-party meeting which the government calls with an open mind,” Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj had said after the conclusion of the first leg of the Budget session. But the Left has said it would not agree to any change in the Bill as adopted by the Upper House.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/womensbillallpartymeetonapril5/598559/
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