NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday rejected an amendment proposed by CPM MP TK Rangarajan to include a passage on the Women’s Reservation Bill in the President’s addess to the joint sitting of Parliament.
Rajya Sabha on Wednesday rejected a total of three amendments seeking inclusion of a passage on the Women Reservation Bill in the President’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament, but the government said it was ready for a discussion on it.
The amendment proposed by Rangarajan was negated by division with 57 members in favour and 86 against. The amendment sought inclusion of the phrase: “But regret that there is no mention in the Address about the Government’s failure to pass Women Reservation Bill.”
Rangarajan later hit out at PM Modi and the BJP over the issue. “This government is anti-women. When Women Reservation bill was brought in Rajya Sabha, they supported it and today when I moved an amendment over the same issue they voted against it. They are male chauvinists,” Rangarajan said. He also said BJP is now seeking to divide Muslims on the issue of triple talaq. “They are not for women,” he said.
In the upper house, the negation of the amendment evoked a sharp response from former Union minister and Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury. She said, “You are all anti-women. Thank You.” Congress and other opposition members also supported Chowdhury saying “Sharam Karo, Sharam Karo” (shame, shame).