Women's Bill stalled again
Mamata clashes with MPs
Tribune News Service and agencies

NEW DELHI, Dec 11 — The BJP-led coalition Government’s renewed attempt to introduce the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament today came a cropper with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party members vehemently opposing the move and forcing adjournment of the Lok Sabha for the day.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned after slogan shouting from Rashtriya Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party MPs. The MPs were shouting slogans against the introduction of the Women’s Reservation Bill which seeks to provide a 33 per cent quota for women in legislature and also demanding action against Ms Mamata Banerjee.

The House was adjourned twice with members initially protesting against the government’s economic policies and later following the clash between the women members and the MPs from the RJD and the SP over the Women’s Reservation Bill.

The Lok Sabha was finally adjourned for the day at 1 pm after the RJD and SP members trooped into the well of the House shouting slogans against the Bill. The House was adjourned for the second time at 12.15 pm when the women members led by Ms Mamata Banerjee clashed with RJD and SP members.

On that occasion, Ms Banerjee and some other women members were seen pulling at the pullover of Daroga Prasad Saroj, SP, to push him. Shocked by the behaviour of the members, the Speaker, Mr G.M.C. Balayogi, abruptly adjourned the House within minutes for the second time.

In the morning, the House was adjourned till noon amid uproarious scenes after RJD and SP members raised slogans against the Women’s Reservation Bill. Simultaneously, the Left party members protested against the Insurance Regulatory Authority Bill and economic policies of the government.

The Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, was seen with folded hands pleading with the agitated members to resume their seats.

While women members continued to block one end of the well, SP and RJD members joined by others stormed the other side of the well.

Even after the House was adjourned for 45 minutes, the agitated SP and RJD members raised slogans against Banerjee demanding action against her.

As the House reassembled, Saroj and his party colleagues trooped to one side of the well while the other side was crowded by women members led by Banerjee, who tried to block their passage.

Saroj managed to get past them but Banerjee, joined by her supporters, ran after him, pulled his sweater and kurta and dragged the SP member.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and several of his senior cabinet colleagues were not present in the House.

Agitated SP and RJD members, supported by the Left parties, immediately started shouting slogans "Dalit virodhi Mamata bahar karo, bahar karo" (anti-Dalit Mamata should be removed).

Taking serious exception to her behaviour, SP and RJD members later gave a privilege notice to the Speaker demanding termination of Banerjee’s Lok Sabha membership.

SP Chief Whip Mohan Singh told reporters that in the notice they have taken strong exception to Banerjee's behaviour in the House and demanded immediate action against her.