Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Wednesday held a press conference decrying the Centre’s intentions to bring the Women’s Reservation Bill into Parliament before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. She said, “Under this bill, reservation will not be provided to women in the country for the next 15 to 16 years.”
Mayawati said a consensus would be reached first and then the seats would be demarcated. “Census takes a lot of time… After this, only this bill would be implemented… This bill has not been brought to provide reservations for women. But to make women attractive before the upcoming elections…” .
Also read: Women’s Reservation Bill introduced; A debate arises about the implementation timeline
Not only Mayawati, but other opposition leaders have also questioned the central government’s intentions over the timing of introducing the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament.
On Wednesday, Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, “The devil in the details came across… The census was supposed to be conducted in 2021 and now 2023 is about to end and it is not done yet and we don’t know. ” when will it happen. After the census, the delimitation will take place and then this Reservation Act will be implemented…Why did you bring this bill if you are not implementing it?…This male dominated Parliament has betrayed women and today it was also a betrayal” .
Also read: ‘Remove all obstacles…implement immediately’: Sonia Gandhi on Women’s Reservation Bill
Yesterday, Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi alleged that the Women’s Reservation Bill is a bill to fool women ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Atishi alleged that the BJP is not interested in the welfare and well-being of women. “A closer look at the provisions of the bill shows that it is the ‘Mahila Bewakoof Banao’ bill,” she said.
RJD spokesperson and MP Manoj Jha said it is not clear whether the women’s quota under the Narishakti Vandan Adhiniyam will come into effect from the 2029 or 2034 Lok Sabha polls, wondering whether the government is serious or ” commits fraud. It is a ‘post-dated commitment’ from a government that has lost its credibility.
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Updated: Sep 20, 2023 1:31 PM IST
