NEW DELHI: The controversial Women's Reservation Bill has been tabled in Rajya Sabha amid dramatic scenes and protests by Samajwadi Party members.

Congratulating the UPA government for introducing the bill, the Left said that the Standing Committee should clear it within a specific timeframe and send it back to Parliament.

The bill provides 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures in the Rajya Sabha.

With Congress MPs providing protective cover, Union Law Minister H R Bhardwaj introduced the controversial bill in the midst of Samajwadi Party (SP) members trying to snatch its copies from the hands of the minister.

SP members started creating chaos after the House resumed at noon in an apparent attempt to stall introduction of the bill, which they have been opposing along with Janata Dal (United).

However, the disruptions that included raising of slogans against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray could not deter the government from going ahead and introducing The Constitution (108th amendment) Bill 2008 that was cleared by the Union Cabinet on Monday night.

Top leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Leader of Opposition Jaswant Singh were witness to the high drama. Several Lok Sabha MPs were also seated in the gallery.