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India to reintroduce women's bill India women's bill sparks uproar
(about 9 hours later)
A landmark bill reserving a third of parliamentary seats for women is due to be reintroduced in India's parliament. The Indian government has reintroduced a bill which would reserve a third of all seats in the national parliament and state legislatures for women.
The bill is to be presented in the upper house (Rajya Sabha) on Monday and in the lower house (Lok Sabha) later. Voting had been due on Monday but was delayed by protests from opponents who forced the upper house to adjourn.
The bill has been stalled for the past 14 years due to opposition from various political parties. Earlier moves to pass it have been unsuccessful. The bill was first proposed in 1996 but never passed. This time it has the backing of India's main parties.
Its opponents in parliament have demanded set quotas for women from Muslim and low-caste communities. At present women make up just 10% of the lower house of parliament, and significantly less in state assemblies.
"We will table the bill in the upper house today," news agency AFP quoted Congress party leader PS Ghatwar as saying. Allies' anger
"The bill if passed then will move to the lower house." Law Minister Veerappa Moily tabled the bill amid loud protests from opponents in the upper house (Rajya Sabha).
Analysts say the bill is likely to be passed this time round. It has the support of the Congress-led UPA alliance, BJP-led NDA alliance and the Left parties. Socialist MPs tore up copies of the legislation and shouted down speakers in an attempt to prevent the bill being debated.
The tabling of the bill has seen protests from several smaller opposition parties who have vowed to disrupt the proceedings in parliament. After several adjournments and attempts by the government to calm tempers, voting was deferred by a day. The bill's backers had hoped voting would take place on Monday, International Women's Day.
The bill, first introduced in parliament in 1996, proposes to reserve 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies. The proposals will be tabled in the lower house (Lok Sabha) at a later date. An overwhelming majority there support the move.
There are 61 women MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha at the moment. While India's main parties back the legislation, smaller socialist parties argue it will reduce representation of minorities and socially disadvantaged groups.
The quota bill, if approved, will take their numbers up to 181. They want set quotas for women from Muslim and low-caste communities.
Two parties, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party, said they were withdrawing support for the Congress-led government in protest at the proposals.
'Gift'
Nonetheless, analysts expect the bill to be passed after 14 years of deadlock.
This time round it has the support of the governing Congress-led UPA alliance, the BJP-led NDA alliance and left-wing parties.
Sonia Gandhi, Congress party president, says she attaches the "highest importance" to the proposals and passing them would be a "gift to the women of India".
She is regarded as the most powerful politician in a country where politics is still largely a male preserve.
There are currently 59 women in the 545-member Lok Sabha. Under the proposals their numbers would rise to 181.
The composition of the 248-seat upper house, which now has 21 women, will not be affected as its members are indirectly elected by state assemblies.
India already reserves a third of local governing council seats in towns and villages for women, a move that is said to have significantly increased their role in decision-making.