Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday demanded the immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill, saying that a delay in implementing the bill is a gross unfairness to the women of the country.
“I stand in support of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhinyam 2023. Women are being told that they will have to wait more for this bill to become law. we demand that the bill be made a law immediately. A delay in implementing the bill is a gross unfairness to women in the country. I appeal to the Government to do this immediately,” Sonia Gandhi said in Lok Sabha.
Gandhi began the discussion on the Women’s Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha on the third day of the special session of Parliament. Gandhi also demanded the conducting of a caste census to ensure the participation of women belonging to Other Backward Class/Scheduled Caste (OBC/SC) communities.
She recalled that her late husband Rajiv Gandhi had brought the first constitutional amendment to decide women’s representation in local body elections in 1989. However, it was defeated in Rajya Sabha by seven votes. Later, the Congress government under the leadership of PV Narasimha Rao passed it in Rajya Sabha in 1992. As a result, there are now 15 lakh elected women leaders across the country through local bodies.
Gandhi said that Rajiv Gandhi’s dream is only partially complete, and it will be completed with the passing of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The bill, which seeks to reserve 33% of seats in Parliament and state legislatures for women, was passed by the Lok Sabha in 2010 but is yet to be passed by the Rajya Sabha.
Discussion for passing of the Bill in the House began today at 11 with Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introducing the amendments in the Bill. The Bill will be taken up in Rajya Sabha on September 21.
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