WOMEN LEGISLATORS FOR FIRST TIME OBSTRUCT PARLIAMENT SESSION

FOR FIRST TIME WOMEN LEGISLATORS OBSRUCT PARLIAMENT SESSION

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 8 May: For the first time Sunday, women legislators crossing party lines shouted slogans on the floor of parliament demanding proportional representation of females in state agencies forcing Speaker Subash Nemwang to adjourn the session until Wednesday.
No business was conduced in the budget session convened by the communist dominated majority government one month ahead of traditional session.
Women legislators have united to demand one-third representation in government and other state agencies after Maoist woman minister Jaya Puri Gharti refused to take her oath of office demanding last week proportional representation of women as prescribed in the interim constitution and a party pledge to implement the declaration.
Women demanded proportional representation in all government agencies as Prathiva Rana, RPP legislator and mother-in-law of Sher Bahadur Deuba demanded galvanized support Sunday in a meeting of women interest groups.
Four Dalit, Muslim, minority group and independent lawmakers also obstructed the session Sunday as in the past by shouting slogans.
House session was disrupted for nearly three hours before adjournment..
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UPDATE ON TWO WOMEN LEGISLATORS

Kathmandu, 8 May: Special court Sunday authorized a CIAA request to put lawmakers B.P.Yadav and Gayatri Sah for 14 days to prepare charges for misuse of diplomatic passports.
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