One step closer — Women’s Bill gets nod from parties

The passage of the Bill, which is now a mere formality, would mean that the forthcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi will see women cornering at least 33 per cent seats. The BJP, Khurana said, would issue a whip for its MPs to ensure their presence in the House when the Bill is to be passed.

The all-party meeting, convened at the request of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, was attended by 57 leaders belonging to 35 politicalparties. As many as 24 leaders participated in the discussions.

While leaders of most political parties, including the BJP, Congress and the Left parties, favoured the introduction of the Bill in its present, undiluted form, the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Janata Party, National Conference, Indian Union Muslim League and the Tamizhaga Rajiv supported the idea of reserving seats for women belonging to the OBCs and minorities.

Interestingly, two important constituents of the ruling coalition, the AIADMK and the Samata Party, also came out in support of this suggestion. Defence Minister George Fernandes, who represented the Samata Party in the meeting, said that his party would move an amendment reserving within the 33 per cent quota seats for OBCs. But at the same time he remarked even if this amendment was defeated, his party would still support the Bill.

The Bill, once it is passed by Parliament, would ensure the reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies “byrotation.” To begin with, it will be in force for 15 years, although the Parliament may extend this deadline by amending the Constitution.

One-third of the seats reserved for women, according to the Bill, will be earmarked for SCs and STs. There will be reservation even in the nomination of persons belonging to the Anglo-Indian community. A woman hailing from the community will be entitled to be nominated to the Lok Sabha and State legislatures after the second term.

Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav favoured the reduction in the quota from 33 per cent to 15 per cent as even the advanced countries of the world did not have such a high percentage of seats reserved for women. He also wanted the political parties to identify and reserve seats for women.

“This task should not be left to the Election Commission or the ruling party,” he said.

RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav favoured reserving seats only for women belonging to the OBCs, SCc, STs and the minorities.

Manipur Congress leader T ChaobaSingh wanted to know how would the Bill be implemented in a State or Union Territory which had just one or two constituencies. In such provinces, he was told, the seats would be reserved by rotation after every second term.