Congress leader Sonia Gandhi started the debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill from the opposition on Wednesday.
Initiating the debate from the Opposition side in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi said, “I stand here in support of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam”.
She said, “Any delay in the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act will be a gross injustice to Indian women.”
Remembering her late husband and former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia said that if the Women’s Reservation Bill is passed, “Rajiv’s” dream will become a reality.
“It is a very moving moment in my life. The first time the Constitutional amendment regulating women’s participation in local bodies was introduced by my life partner Rajiv Gandhi,” Sonia said.
Sonia Gandhi was in favor of the Women’s Reservation Bill, but with a catch. The Congress president said they are demanding immediate implementation of the women quota law with sub-quotas for SCs, STs and OBCs.
“We are happy with the passage of this bill, but at the same time we are also concerned. Indian women have been waiting for their political responsibility for thirteen years. And now they are being asked to wait a few more years. How many years? Congress demands that this bill be implemented immediately, while making arrangements for reservations for women from SC, ST and OBC communities by conducting caste census,” Sonia Gandhi said.
Gandhi added, “Immediate implementation of the Women Reservation Act by removing all obstacles, not only necessary but also possible”.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal presented the bill during the first session of Lok Sabha at the New Parliament House on Tuesday.
The bill was named ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’.
When introducing the bill in the House of Representatives, the minister said: “This bill is about the empowerment of women. By amending Article 239AA of the Constitution, 33 percent of seats will be reserved for women in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. Article 330A provides for reservation of seats for SC/ST in the House of the People.”
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Updated: Sep 20, 2023 11:48 IST