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 applause.