This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8557237.stm
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. | |
| The bill was introduced on Monday amid uproar from opponents, resulting in the suspension of seven MPs on Tuesday. | The bill was introduced on Monday amid uproar from opponents, resulting in the suspension of seven MPs on Tuesday. |
| First proposed in 1996, the bill now has support from India's main parties. | 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. | 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". | 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". |
| In India's parliamentary system a "voice vote" is the first stage of the voting process. Once this takes place a division of votes gets under way, which provides the actual number of votes in favour of and against a motion. | |
| This bill needs the support of two-thirds of members present and voting for it to be passed. |