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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| India women's bill sparks uproar | India women's bill sparks uproar |
| (1 day later) | |
| 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 Indian government has reintroduced a bill which would reserve a third of all seats in the national parliament and state legislatures for women. |
| Voting had been due on Monday but was delayed by protests from opponents who forced the upper house to adjourn. | Voting had been due on Monday but was delayed by protests from opponents who forced the upper house to adjourn. |
| The bill was first proposed in 1996 but never passed. This time it has the backing of India's main parties. | The bill was first proposed in 1996 but never passed. This time it has the backing of India's main parties. |
| At present women make up just 10% of the lower house of parliament, and significantly less in state assemblies. | At present women make up just 10% of the lower house of parliament, and significantly less in state assemblies. |
| Allies' anger | Allies' anger |
| Law Minister Veerappa Moily tabled the bill amid loud protests from opponents in the upper house (Rajya Sabha). | Law Minister Veerappa Moily tabled the bill amid loud protests from opponents in the upper house (Rajya Sabha). |
| Socialist MPs tore up copies of the legislation and shouted down speakers in an attempt to prevent the bill being debated. | Socialist MPs tore up copies of the legislation and shouted down speakers in an attempt to prevent the bill being debated. |
| 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. | 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 proposals will be tabled in the lower house (Lok Sabha) at a later date. An overwhelming majority there support the move. | The proposals will be tabled in the lower house (Lok Sabha) at a later date. An overwhelming majority there support the move. |
| While India's main parties back the legislation, smaller socialist parties argue it will reduce representation of minorities and socially disadvantaged groups. | While India's main parties back the legislation, smaller socialist parties argue it will reduce representation of minorities and socially disadvantaged groups. |
| They want set quotas for women from Muslim and low-caste communities. | 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. | 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' | 'Gift' |
| Nonetheless, analysts expect the bill to be passed after 14 years of deadlock. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | There are currently 59 women in the 545-member Lok Sabha. Under the proposals their numbers would rise to 181. |
| The composition of the 245-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. | 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. |