After an unprecedented situation, the Rajya Sabha has finally taken up for discussion the historic Women's Reservation Bill for political empowerment of women. The Congress-led UPA, the BJP and Left and several other parties are supporting the landmark bill which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.<br/><br/>Initiating the debate, the Leader of the Opposition in the house, Mr. Arun Jaitley said that his party BJP unequivocally supports the bill. He strongly condemned the scene that prevailed in the house today describing it as a shame on Parliamentary democracy and also alleged that the situation could have been handled more deftly.<br/><br/>AIR Parliamentary Correspondents report that seven members, who were suspended in the morning for their unruly behaviour yesterday, had to be physically lifted by the marshals after their stiff resistance to leave the House. These members belonging to SP, RJD and LJP continued to sit on dharana in the well of the House even after the House was adjourned. For the first time in the Rajya Sabha, marshals have been deployed to ensure smooth passage of the bill.<br/><br/>Participating in the debate, Mrs Jayanti Natarajan of the Congress said that it was her party which was the first to bring the Constitutional amendment for 33 per cent reservation for women in Panchayats and local urban bodies and has introduced a bill for raising the reservation to 50 per cent. She said that her party has fulfilled its commitment on reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.<br/><br/>The CPIM leader, Mrs Brinda Karat, while welcoming the bill, said that its passage will lead to the overall development of women. The BSP leader, Mr Satish Mishra, while welcoming the reservation for women, opposed the bill saying it needs further amendments to provide quota within quota.<br/><br/>The JD(U) member Mr Shivanand Tiwari supported the bill but said it would have been better if there was reservation for minority women. The debate is continuing.