Opinion Better than nothing
A maddening wait of 14 years doesnt seem like a short cut to me. One of the arguments is how the womens bill would condemn us to being branded as the weaker sex.....
A maddening wait of 14 years doesnt seem like a short cut to me. One of the arguments is how the womens bill would condemn us to being branded as the weaker sex. But theoretical equality is markedly different from practical equality,which can be secured not by making empty pronouncements,but by formulating affirmative policies ensuring greater representation for women in the political arena. Worries about how the womens bill would lead to politics being dominated by the beti-bahu-biwi brigade are ironical as Indian politics is undoubtedly characterised by the beta-bhatija brigade. The bill is not without its flaws. But something is better than nothing,right?
Nikita Kamtekar
Historic moment
You have rightly pointed out the complications awaiting the passage and implementation of the womens bill (Judgment reserved,IE,March 10). Yet the bills passage in the Rajya Sabha was a historic occasion. The bill has to overcome several other challenges. Women constituting nearly 50 per cent of the total population have remained mostly outside the mainstream democratic process,and consequently governance. Non-participation of such a large segment of the population is not good for a democracy. Their representation in Parliament and state assemblies has been minimal. The bill becoming law after going through all the stages will ensure full-scale participation of women in the legislative as well as governing process. The quality of democracy and governance is likely to improve a great deal.
S. Shankar Singh
New Delhi
Conduct unbecoming
This refers to the editorial Marshal law (IE,March11). First things first: do those worthies qualify to be elders of our Parliament? The chairman extended decency in not allowing TV cameras to focus as these members were marshalled out. Of course,the action was simply exemplary. But pray,why were they protesting,more so their leaders? There is evident deficit in their understanding of how they should conduct themselves in Parliament. Neither these worthies nor their leaders seem to know that the elementary principle of parliamentary democracy is that issues before the House be discussed and debated and if one doesnt agree one must be able to say lets agree to disagree.
Prasad Malladi
Nidadavole
Without the best
This is the first time in the history of Pakistani cricket that such a harsh decision has been taken (Without Afridi?,IE,March 12). Pakistan will now have an uphill task in defending the T20 title without four key players. If reports are to be believed,what experienced cricketers,Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf,did was not right. This would be a strong message to all those players who use their power to misguide and spoil the unity and morale of their team. The hope is that this will make young cricketers in Pakistan prove their worth.
Adarsh Bhardwaj
Share
