Reluctant Congress says don’t have numbers to get women’s bill passed

Various political parties on Thursday came out in support of the Women’s Reservation Bill even as Congress expressed apprehension about its smooth passage in Parliament citing disruptions in the current session and saying it does not have the numbers to see it through.

Some leaders also attacked Samajwadi Party and RJD for opposing provisions of the Bill, which seeks to give 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state assemblies, saying they were doing so despite claiming to be ‘disciples of Ram Manohar Lohia’, who strongly supported socialist reform.

Speaking at an event organised by women’s organisations to discuss the Bill, Congress MP Bhakt Charan Das said, ‘I do not think the Bill can come in this session. The government's stand was that amongst the two or three important bills, the Women’s Reservation Bill, which has been passed in Rajya Sabha, should be passed in Lok Sabha.

‘Today, the finance bill and railway budget was passed. It is possible that after tomorrow, Parliament session does not take place,’ das said.

Das said the vote on account might take place in February but Parliament may not function then 

as well.