BJP MLAs protest over defeat of women's quota Bill

BJP MLAs led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday staged a protest in Delhi Assembly premises over the defeat in Lok Sabha of a Constitution amendment bill to roll out reservation for women. The protest came ahead of the special session of the Assembly to discuss the bill and the opposition to it by the Congress and other parties. The protesters, including Delhi government ministers, raised slogans asserting that the country will not tolerate the ''humilation'' of women. The BJP MLAs and ministers also came to the House wearing black armbands. Later in the day, the BJP government will move a censure motion against the opposition over the defeat of the bill. Gupta said women across the country had hoped that 33 per cent reservation would be granted after the recent Lok Sabha session but that did not happen. Accusing the opposition of playing a ''deeply disappointing role'', she alleged it had betrayed women. The Congress and other opposition parties, which had voted against the bill, alleged that the government's real agenda was to carry out delimitation before the caste census. While 298 members voted in support of the Bill, 230 MPs voted against it. Out of 528 members who voted, the Bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.

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