Wednesday, May 4 2005 15:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Cornered by women members in the Rajya Sabha, Government today (May 4, 2005) assured the House that it would try to bring in Parliament the long-awaited Women's Reservation bill "as soon as possible".

"This bill has been pending for long and I will do my best to bring it as early as possible," Home Minister Shivraj Patil said when Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat asked if the Government could give any time-frame to bring the measure in the face of persistent demand from women members.

Patil was responding to the issue raised by women members led by Sarla Maheswari of Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM) and Ambika Soni of Congress who said what action the Government was taking to fulfil promises made in the Common Minimum Programme to bring in the legislation pending since the 11th Lok Sabha.

The Home Minister said that it was late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who brought in the legislation to empower women in local bodies due to which there were 10 lakh women members in municipalities.

Government was serious about the issue and he had held discussions with leaders of 20 parties, Patil said.

"We have made certain amendments and it will not result in less number of seats and it will remain at one-third," he said adding all parties barring one have supported the proposal.