RS MPs urge govt to pass women’s quota bill in LS

New Delhi: Cutting across party lines, women MPs in Rajya Sabha on Friday asked the BJP-led government to use its strength in the Lok Sabha to ensure passage of a legislation providing 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures.

Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu allowed a short submissions to the women members some of whom had given notices for a discussions into the matter.

The Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, commonly known as the Women’s Reservation Bill, was passed by Rajya Sabha in 2010, but is awaiting nod of Lok Sabha.

Speaking in favour of the bill, SP’s Jaya Bachchan said that her party was not against the Bill but wanted sub-reservation to be provided for dalits. She said political parties should be given the right to choose the seats or constituencies from where they wish to field 33 per cent women.

“There are unnecessary rumours that our party is against the Bill. We are not against the women’s reservation bill. We are for the reservation bill but we have certain recommendations,” said the SP member while adding that the bill in its current form is “cosmetic.”

CPI(M)’s Jharna Das Baidya said the BJP has absolute majority in Lok Sabha but has not got the women’s reservation bill passed.

TDP’s V. Thota Seetharama Lakshmi said her party supports the legislation and appealed to the government to ensure its passage in the lower house.

TMC’s Shanta Chhetri said her party gave one-third of tickets to women in the 2014 Lok Sabha election and West Bengal has already provided 50 per cent reservation to women in local bodies.

AIADMK’s Vijila Sathyananth also asked the government to confer Bharat Ratna on late AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa, whom she described as the “greatest leader of the century”.

Supporting the bill, DMK’s Kanimozhi said the Right, Left and Centre are supporting the bill, yet it has not been passed in Lok Sabha for nine years.

Nominated member Sonal Mansingh said the rotational provision in the bill needs attention and detailing. She said women in legislatures will bring “grace, wisdom and harmony.”