Women\’s bill is \’historic step forward\’, says PM

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the women\’s reservation bill set to pass in the Rajya Sabha Tuesday was \”a historic step forward\” towards the emancipation of Indian women.

\”This is a momentous development in the long journey of empowering our women,\” he said at the end of a lively debate on the bill that seeks to reserve a third of seats in parliament and state assemblies for women.

\”The bill that is going to be passed today is a historic step forward, a giant step forward in strengthening the process of emancipation (of women),\” he said, drawing thunderous