UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi spoke to Times Now correspondent Nandita Suneja.
Times Now: It must be an extremely happy day for you personally.
Sonia Gandhi: Yes, of course, it is a very happy day for me personally. But, it is not for me alone. It is actually my colleagues, the men, and to start with, the Prime Minister and the members of my party, men and women.
You wanted the Bill to be passed on Women's Day. That didn't happen.
Sonia Gandhi: I think there is a misunderstanding. I didn't say that. How can I say I want it to be passed on Women's Day. I only said 'if'. There was never a command. I couldn't possibly do that.
There has been a lot of resistance against the Bill and it was quite apparent in the Rajya Sabha and sometimes in an unparliamentary way. Have you been disappointed with the resistance?
Sonia Gandhi: Well, in Parliament it wasn't the first time that there was resistance to a Bill. It has happened before. It will happen in the future.
There is a sense that a very heavy political price may have been paid. Samajwadi Party and RJD have almost written it on paper that they are going to withdraw support. They are even talking about meeting the President on Wednesday.
Sonia Gandhi: I hope not, but we have faced enormous problems before and we will face similar (problems) ahead.
Similar voice from Mamata Banerjee. Any message for her whose members have abstained from voting on Tuesday?
Sonia Gandhi: I will find out why she is upset. And, I am sure she will understand.
