PM meets leaders of parties favouring women's bill

With Rajya Sabha witnessing pandemonium over opposition to the Women's Reservation Bill, prime minister Manmohan Singh met leaders of parties backing the bill amid indications that he would call an all-party meeting tomorrow to discuss how it can be passed smoothly.

Singh met leaders of BJP, CPI(M), CPI and TDP after SP and RJD stalled the functioning of both houses of Parliament protesting against the bill that provides for 33% reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The meeting was called to discuss the strategy for ensuring the passage of the land-mark legislation. While the government was keen on passing the bill today itself without discussion, leaders attending the meeting insisted on a discussion before passing the bill.

"We want the bill to be passed and also want the Parliamentary procedure to be respected," CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said.

Leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley also favoured a discussion on the bill before it is passed by the House.

Some of the leaders who attended the meeting wanted an all party meeting to be convened to discuss the matter.

The issue is expected to be discussed at the meeting of the Congress Core Committee being held in the evening. A meeting of leaders of the parties supporting the bill is likely to be held late evening, while an all party meeting is expected tomorrow.