Today is Women's Day and it may go down in the history as the day the women's
bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha. Opposition to the bill seems to be thinning
down, but will there be a watering down of this landmark bill?(Read: Women's
bill - journey so far | Reality at last?)
The Women's Reservation Bill has come a step closer to being passed by the
Rajya Sabha. One of the staunchest opponents, the Janata Dal (United), divided
between Nitish Kumar's yes and Sharad Yadav's no, allowed its 7 MPs the freedom
to vote as they wished. Another NDA ally Shiv Sena too is singing a pro bill
tune. (Read: Nitish defies party, backs women's bill)
"Our party will not be issuing a whip," says chief whip, Janata Dal (U), Rajya
Sabha, Akbar Anwar.
The voices for women quota bill are gaining confidence. Unlike last few times,
when the bill was brought up, the sentiment this time is affirmative, says Lok
Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.
With the tide turning, the opponents seem to have lost the battle for numbers
in the Rajya Sabha.
In a House of 245, 12 seats are vacant so, only 233 will vote. The 2/3rd mark
needed to pass the bill is 155. The pro bill number is 180, and this includes
the Congress and its allies, the BJP and its allies, and the Left. (Read: The
number game)
The verdict 2009 seems to have dealt the worst blow to the opponents. In the
14th Lok Sabha the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had
much larger numbers. But they aren't giving up.
But another opponent of the bill, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulyam Singh
Yadav, on Sunday attacked the Congress, asking what stopped the party from
giving quota to its women members.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, is
also opposed to the bill. The party has 12 MPs in Rajya Sabha. (Read: Parties
for and against the Women's Reservation Bill)
The opponents have succeeded in the past by employing strong-arm tactics, as
they did in May 2008. Can they do the same today? To this end they are planning
to use the rules. The Rajya Sabha chairman wants a debate.
# They may stall the debate and force adjournments
# A vote needs the House to be in order
# Each MP has to be in the allocated seat to vote
# If there are many protestors, eviction won't be easy
# So the bill's opponents can disrupt and delay.
To buy peace the government is negotiating with the SP and RJD. Perhaps even
some last-minute changes. But those who back the bill want the rulebook to be
followed.
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