Intervening in the debate on the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, Shah indicated that women’s reservation will become a reality after 2029.
Shah asserted that the BJP stands apart from other political parties in its approach to women’s empowerment. He claimed that, unlike other parties, which view women’s empowerment as a mere “political issue” and a tool for garnering votes, the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi regard it as a matter of “principles and beliefs.”
No need for census, delimitation: Rahul
Before Shah’s remarks, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had said that census and delimitation is not required for implementing the Women’s Reservation Bill and it should come into force soon after it is passed by Parliament.
Participating in the debate on the Bill in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said that it should also have provision for OBC reservation. “There is one thing in my view that makes this bill incomplete. I would like to have seen the OBC reservation included in this bill,” he said.
Supporting the bill, Rahul Gandhi also raised the party’s demand for caste census and said that the population of Dalits, tribals and Other Backward Classes can only be known through it.
Shah highlights timing
During a discussion in the Lok Sabha about the Women’s Reservation Bill, Shah highlighted the significance of the timing, noting that the introduction of the Women’s Reservation Bill on Ganesh Chaturthi marked a historic moment. He described the Bill as a symbol of respect and the beginning of a new era.
The home minister underscored that PM Modi had presented a visionary perspective of women-led progress at the recent G20 session.
The Women’s Reservation Bill, which aims to provide a 33% quota for women in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, was introduced in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing special session of Parliament. It is scheduled for discussion on Wednesday at 11 am.
It’s worth noting that the UPA government, led by Manmohan Singh, introduced the Bill in the Rajya Sabha in 2008, and it was passed in 2010. However, it was never taken up for consideration in the Lok Sabha. Government sources have indicated that the Bill will be discussed in the Rajya Sabha on September 21.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeks to introduce three new articles and one new clause in the Constitution.
(With inputs from agencies)
