New Delhi, March 10 2010: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday described the Women's Reservation Bill as a "giant step" towards the empowerment of women and announced in the Rajya Sabha that the measure isn't anti-minority and anti-Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe.

Singh also expressed "profound apology" to Chairman Hamid Ansari for contempt directed at the Chair by members in the House, over the past two days.

While interceding in the debate over the landmark Constitution amendment Bill that provides for 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, the Prime Minister said to Ansari, "On behalf of the government I owe you a profound apology."

Singh also pressed for the need to "reflect" on how to guarantee that such incidents do not reoccur and the House functions efficiently.

7 members of the House, primarily from SP and RJD, were asked to leave and had to be marshalled out, owing to their disorderly behaviour while opposing the Bill.