Centre pushes for unanimity

New Delhi, March 10: When asked about passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, the parliamentary affairs minister, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, did not give any clear indication but suggested that the government would like the tempers to cool.

“We want everyone on board. We will certainly try for a congenial atmosphere. Some efforts will have to be made to avoid the things that occurred in the Rajya Sabha (during the passing of the bill),” Mr Bansal said.

He said the Lok Sabha BAC on March 12 would decide when to take up the bill. He said there was other important official business, including financial Bills, to be taken up before the House adjourns on March 16. “Certainly, by May 7, in all probability, it will be passed,” he said on the bill. May 7 is the last day of the Budget Session.

Meanwhile, Mr Sharad Yadav’s move to bring a no-confidence against the government failed as both the RJD chief, Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav, and the SP supremo, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, said on Wednesday that they are “not considering this option”.

In the evening, the Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Ms Banerjee met to discuss the latter’s objections to the Women’s Bill in its present form. Two Trinamul members of the Rajya Sabha had abstained from voting on the bill on Tuesday. At the end of the 45-minute meeting, Ms Banerjee’s belligerence over the bill appeared to have given way to some sort of rapprochement with the UPA of which her party, with 19 Lok Sabha MPs, is a key constituent.

Also present at the meeting with Mrs Gandhi was the Union minister of state for health, Mr Dinesh Trivedi of the TMC.