Quite right, Sushma

Sushma Swaraj, as the BJP8217;s spokesperson, is required to bat for her party. For a change, however, she recently chose to pitch a few well-aimed googlies at the BJP for what she termed as its 8220;mindset of male domination8221; that has had the dual effect of keeping women out of power, generally speaking, and clipping the wings of those women who have actually survived the system and emerged as leaders.

All those who wonder why women constitute only 8.3 per cent of the present Lok Sabha, despite a decade of practiced pieties about 8220;empowering women8221; tripping from the tongues of prime ministers and ministers, party presidents and legislators, would do well to consider Swaraj8217;s complaint. The gates go down at the starting line itself. Women candidates are routinely rejected on the grounds that they are unlikely to win. But, as Swaraj rightly asks, how can they prove themselves if they are not given the opportunity to do so in the first place. And why is it that the 8220;winnability8221; question mark is never attached to male candidates? Why are only women candidates required to 8220;guarantee8221; victory at the outset?

While the Women8217;s Bill is seen as an imperfect instrument to correct the anomaly of low female representation, it has been argued that political parties could help change things considerably by adopting more gender-just principles in party functioning and thus ensure a more level playing field for its male and female candidates and members. But this is clearly not happening. Not in the BJP 8212; and we have Swaraj8217;s word for it. Not in the Congress, despite its woman president. Not among the Left parties, which are among the most vocal supporters of the Women8217;s Bill. Why, for instance, does the CPM not utilise the services of articulate women like Brinda Karat and Suhashini Ali for top leadership positions? Sushma Swaraj8217;s question 8212; how many party committees are there in which the number of women exceed the prescribed number? 8212; could apply to just about every political party in the firmament. Time to introspect, brothers.