Despite opposition from certain parties, the government is determined to go ahead with the Women's Reservation Bill expected to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha on Monday and sees no problem in its passage due to the united backing of Congress, BJP and Left parties.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal told reporters that the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Upper House today decided to allot four hours for discussion on the Bill, which was introduced in the House in 2008.

"Please do not go into numbers game. There is no problem about numbers in either House. We are clear in our intention we are going to pass the Bill," he said when asked opposition from Samajwadi Party, RJD, BSP and JD(U) to the Bill in its present form.

Reaching out to those opposing the measure in its present form, Bansal appealed "we want everyone to join this important cause and give it as an example to the world".

His statement came close on the heels of Congress President Sonia Gandhi's assertion that she personally attaches the "highest importance" to the Bill, which seeks to reserve 33 per cent seats for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.

Noting that late Rajiv Gandhi had first unveiled the vision of empowering women, she said it was a matter of pride that even though the Bill has taken so long, "it is our government that has cleared the legislation in Cabinet".

She said Monday, March 8 was the centenary of the International Women's Day and "what a gift to the women of India if on this important day, this historic legislation is introduced and passed".

With RJD and Samajwadi Party remaining firm on their opposition to the Bill hanging fire for over a decade, the government is no longer talking about a political consensus but backing it enjoys in a wider political spectrum.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav have warned of "uproar" in Parliament if attempts were made to pass the Bill without reaching a consensus.

Congress sources indicated that backroom moves are afoot to evolve a consensus on the issue.

The government is bringing the Bill at a time when the index of opposition unity has improved a lot with BJP, Left, Samajwadi Party, RJD and BSP coming together in attacking the Congress-led coalition on the issue of price rise and fuel hike.

JD(U) leaders have cautioned BJP that if it backs the Bill, then it would go against the unity on the issue of price rise, party sources said.