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Indian MPs vote on women's bill Indian MPs vote on women's bill
(10 minutes later)
The upper house of India's parliament is voting on a bill to reserve a third of all seats in the national parliament and state legislatures for women.The upper house of India's parliament is voting on a bill to reserve a third of all seats in the national parliament and state legislatures for women.
The bill was introduced on Monday amid uproar and protests from opponents of the plans, which resulted in the suspension of seven MPs on Tuesday. India's Vice President called a "voice vote" of MPs in the house and ruled the bill had passed. Now he has called for an official division of votes.
It was first proposed in 1996 but never passed. This time the bill has the backing of India's main parties. The bill was introduced on Monday amid uproar from opponents, resulting in the suspension of seven MPs on Tuesday.
Women currently make up just 10% of the lower house of parliament. First proposed in 1996, the bill now has support from India's main parties.
At present women make up just 10% of the lower house of parliament, and significantly less in state assemblies.
Sonia Gandhi, Congress party president, has said she attaches the "highest importance" to the proposals and passing them would be a "gift to the women of India".