Thursday, May 12 2005 09:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Affirming that ensuring the passage of the women's reservation bill was one of his "primary concerns", Home Minister Shivraj Patil yesterday (May 11, 2005) said he was determined to initiate steps to evolve a consensus on the much-debated issue to give "women their due".

"My primary concern is to table the bill. I have a clear mandate from the Prime Minister to reach a consensus in this regard and get the bill passed," he said addressing a meeting organised by the All India Mahila Congress (AIMC).

Patil said he was looking for a formula to which leaders of all political parties would agree.

Arguing for increasing the seats in Parliament and proportionate reservation for women, he said, "When the population was 32 crore, the Parliament was represented by 545 people. Now the population is over 100 cores so accordingly seats should be increased. Women should also be given their due."

The meeting passed a resolution demanding tabling of the bill in the ongoing session of Parliament and said the AIMC was against any dilution of 33 per cent reservation.

It also strongly disapproved any proposal for quota within quota.

Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit, Tourism Minister Renuka Chaudhary, Congress leaders Mohsina Kidwai, Prabha Rau and Meira Kumar were prominent among those who attended the function.