History was created today with the Rajya Sabha passing the Women's Reservation Bill with more than two thirds majority. Out of 187 members present in the House, 186 voted in support and one against the bill.<br/><br/>Intervening in the debate on the Bill which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh described it as a giant and historic step forward. Referring to the concerns about the rights of minorities, Dr. Singh said that the government recognizes that they have not got their due share. He said that the government is committed to their empowerment and the process has already begun.<br/><br/>Recalling the contribution of women in the Indian freedom struggle and after, Dr. Singh noted that this is a celebration of India's regard and respect to women. Replying the debate, the Law Minister, Mr. Veerappa Moily said that determination of seats and reservation will be addressed by a separate legislation which will be prepared after due deliberations by the government. Mr. Moily said that the reservation for women is a major step towards their empowerment reflecting India's history, philosophy and cultural ethos.<br/><br/>Earlier, members from almost all political parties present in the House except BSP, pledged their full support to the Bill describing it as a historic and revolutionary step towards empowerment of women in India. The BSP later staged a walk out from the Rajya Sabha in protest.<br/><br/>Initiating the debate, the Leader of the opposition in the House, Mr Arun Jaitley said that the reservation for women is an affirmative action which has to be translated into a vision of equality. <br/><br/>Giving the argument for the reservation for women, he said time has come to provide them level playing field in decision making. Mr Jaitley said rotation is the most suitable principle for sex based reservation which will ensures that each constituency of the country sends at least once in 15 years a female representative.<br/><br/>Mrs Brinda Karat of the CPIM while welcoming the Bill said that its passage will lead to overall development of women.<br/><br/>Mrs Jayanti Natarajan of the Congress said that the party is committed to the reservation of women to make them partners in the decision making process. She said it is in this regard that the party brought the constitutional amendment, first for 33 and later for 50 per cent seats for women in Panchayats and local urban bodies. She described the present legislation as an important milestone towards the empowerment of women in the country.<br/><br/>All these leaders and members of other parties who spoke in favour the Bill strongly condemned the unprecedented scenes in the House describing it as a shame on Parliamentary Democracy. The BJP and Left leaders however charged the government of not resorting to proper floor strategy well in advance.<br/><br/>Participating in the debate, Mr. Satish Mishra of the BSP struck the discordant note by opposing the bill describing it as against minorities and backward classes.<br/><br/>The division in the JDU also came to the fore during the debate when its member Shivanad Tiwari supported the Bill and said it would have been better if there was reservation for minorities and other weaker sections.<br/><br/>AIR Parliamentary Correspondents report that seven members belonging to SP, RJD and LJP were suspended for the session for their unruly and unprecedented behaviour while protesting the bill and taken out of the House by Marshals after they resorted to a dharna.<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/>AIR correspondents Vijay Raina & Sarita Brara report from Parliament that till afternoon, it was uncertain whether the Rajya Sabha would be able to take up the historic bill for discussion and passage. All eyes were on the House when it met at 3 pm as the members from RJD, SP and LJP, suspended from the house for their unprecedented and unruly behavior, refused to leave the House.<br/><br/>The Chair finally decided to evict them, after its repeated pleas to leave the House fell on to their deaf ears. Marshals were called for the first time in the History of the Rajya Sabha to take the members out so as to start the debate. This was done after some resistance from agitating members.<br/><br/>The Women reservation issue has been rocking the two houses since yesterday leading to repeated adjournments. Parliamentarians, observers and political commentators while expressing regret on the shameful acts of some members in the House, opined that a minuscule minority can not hold the majority to ransom in Parliamentary democracy.<br/><br/>And finally, the history was created. In rare gesture two prominent opposition parties joined the government in the passage of this land mark legislation.