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We Women Want Festival 2024: Women Leaders Proving Themselves In Male Dominant Arena

October 14, 2024, 3:35 pm

At the “We Women Want Festival & Awards 2024”, a panel discussion titled “Women in Politics” featured Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate and political analyst Neerja Chowdhury.

The discussion, moderated by Priya Sehgal, explored the historical journey of women in Indian politics, their leadership roles, the challenges they face, and the persistent gender biases within political parties, particularly Congress. Both panelists highlighted the progress women have made over the years, while also acknowledging the systemic obstacles that continue to hinder their full participation.

Discussion Highlights:

Praise for Sonia Gandhi’s Leadership

Supriya Shrinate expressed her admiration for Sonia Gandhi, particularly for her leadership during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) years. She described Gandhi as empathetic and graceful, underscoring her significant role in shaping crucial reforms alongside Dr. Manmohan Singh. Supriya noted that her personal interactions with Gandhi enhanced her respect for the Congress leader, particularly appreciating her sense of humor which added a unique charm to her leadership style.

Supriya also contrasted her connection with Sonia Gandhi to ‘Indira Gandhi’, recognizing that many in her generation, including herself, did not experience Indira Gandhi’s era firsthand, making Sonia’s influence more personal and impactful.

Historical Overview of Women in Politics

Neerja Chowdhury provided a historical context regarding women’s political engagement in India, tracing back to the freedom struggle. She emphasized that Indian women gained voting rights earlier than their Western counterparts. “Indian women had a head start,” she stated, citing Mahatma Gandhi’s appointment of ‘Sarojini Naidu’ as Congress president in 1924, despite the literacy rates among women being only 1% at the time.

However, Neerja highlighted that women have often been sidelined in post-independence politics. In the first Lok Sabha, only 5.4% of members were women, a figure that has increased to 13.4% today. While progress has been made, it remains insufficient for achieving gender parity. She pointed out that women in politics are frequently judged by different standards than men, where competence is often overshadowed by perceptions of morality or family background.

Priyanka Gandhi’s Political Position

A significant focus of the discussion was on Priyanka Gandhi’s role within the Congress party. Neerja questioned why Priyanka was not given a seat to contest in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the Congress strongholds of ‘Amethi’ and ‘Raebareli’. She argued that Priyanka’s exclusion from these constituencies reflects deeper biases within the Congress party that hinder the rise of prominent women leaders.

Supriya defended the party’s strategy, stating that Priyanka’s national campaigning was prioritized over contesting a single seat. “We did not want to fall into the trap of the BJP,” Supriya explained, arguing that restricting Priyanka to one constituency would limit her effectiveness across multiple states. She expressed hope that Priyanka Gandhi would soon find her place in Parliament, where her assertiveness and leadership could make a greater impact.

Watch Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) elucidate what she learns from Sonia Gandhi. Catch the full story on #NewsX
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.@Priyascorner #WeWomenWant #ShaktiAwards2024 #WomenLeaders #WomenInPolitics #SoniaGandhi #SupriyaShrinate pic.twitter.com/9jDYUi1fLm

— NewsX World (@NewsX) October 14, 2024

Social Media Abuse and Gender Bias

The discussion also addressed the severe issue of social media abuse directed at women in politics. Supriya, who oversees the Congress party’s social media operations, pointed out that the nature of online trolling is often gendered. “The only threat and the only abuse that a woman gets on social media is sexual in nature,” she stated, emphasizing the specific forms of harassment that women encounter, which are rarely faced by their male counterparts.

Despite the challenges, Supriya mentioned that she has developed resilience over the years but draws the line when it comes to attacks on her children, recounting how she has taken legal action against trolls targeting her daughter.

Gender Inequality Within Congress

Neerja raised concerns about the treatment of women within the Congress party itself, despite its liberal stance. She cited the example of Kumari Shelja, a prominent Dalit woman leader, to illustrate ongoing gender biases. While acknowledging these issues, Supriya noted that Congress has implemented a recent constitutional amendment mandating that 50% of all office bearers must come from SC, ST, OBC, minority, and women groups under the age of 50. This, she argued, demonstrates the party’s commitment to improving representation for marginalized groups, including women.

#WeWomenWant | Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) National Spokesperson Congress & Chairperson Social Media & Digital Platforms, and Neerja Chowdhury (@neerjachowdhury) Columnist & Author of ‘How PM’s Decide’ join Priya Sahgal (@Priyascorner) Editorial Director, NewsX at the We… pic.twitter.com/Jy0sH6Gmc4

— NewsX World (@NewsX) October 14, 2024

Women’s Reservation Bill

The panel discussed the recently passed “Women’s Reservation Bill”, which aims to reserve 33% of seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women. While Supriya welcomed the bill, she criticized the BJP for delaying its implementation by linking it to future delimitation and census exercises, effectively pushing the bill’s enactment to at least 2034. “It’s a carrot that women can’t consume,” she remarked, expressing frustration that the bill is being used as a political tool rather than a genuine commitment to gender equality.

Despite the setbacks, Supriya urged political parties to avoid mudslinging over women’s issues, emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation to advance women’s rights across the political spectrum.

Conclusion: The Path Forward for Women in Politics

The discussion highlighted both the strides made and the ongoing struggles faced by women in Indian politics. While women have made significant inroads in various fields, politics remains an area where representation and recognition are still limited. As India progresses, the call for greater representation of women in politics intensifies. However, as both Supriya and Neerja concluded, achieving meaningful change requires more than rhetoric; it demands structural reforms and a cultural shift that values women’s leadership on par with men’s.

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From new Parliament building to passage of Women’s Reservation Bill: How the stars converged last week

September 28, 2023, 3:55 pm

The passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, also known as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, and the grand inauguration of the new Parliament building were just two of the historic events that took place in India last week. The Indian flag was raised at the new Parliament building on September 17, which was a particularly significant day because it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday. This was a fitting tribute to a leader who has been instrumental in determining the course of the country. On September 18, Ganesh Chaturthi, the New Parliament building’s inaugural session took place.

On September 20, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, a bill honoring Rishi Panchami and Vakil Saheb, a man highly regarded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was passed by the Lok Sabha. Following a vote, the legislation was approved with 454 members voting in favor and two members voting against it. The opposition members’ proposed amendments were rejected, and the bill’s provisions were also put to a vote. The Rajya Sabha passed Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam on September 21, which coincides with the PM’s birthday according to the Hindu calendar.

The Women’s Reservation Bill was approved by the Rajya Sabha with 214 members voting in favor and none voting against it. A majority of the House’s total membership and not less than two-thirds of the members “present and voting” were required for the Bill to pass in each of the two Houses. After moving to the new Parliament building, the Lok Sabha passed its first piece of legislation, the “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.”

Women’s reservation bill: Rahul Gandhi regrets non-inclusion of OBC quota in 2010

September 22, 2023, 3:36 pm

Rahul Gandhi, a member of Congress, expressed regret on Friday that the Other Backward Class (OBC) quota was not included in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Bill that was introduced in 2010.

Addressing a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said, “100 per cent regret hai. This should have been done then. We will get this done.”

Rahul Gandhi demanded that the data from the previous caste census be made available right away and that a new caste census be conducted to count the number of OBCs and other underrepresented groups.

“What is this delay in the census? Caste census should be done now, and the last caste census data should be released at once,” Rahul Gandhi said.

When the Congress party regains power, a caste census will be conducted, he continued, and the nation will then be aware of the total number of OBCs, Dalits, and tribal communities living here. He added that PM Modi frequently mentions OBCs but is unaware of the support being provided for them.

“I spoke of one institution in Parliament, that which runs the Government of India – Cabinet secretary and secretaries… If they work for OBC, then why are only 3 out of 90 secretaries from OBC? How much and what are these OBC officers controlling the country’s budget? I don’t understand that PM Modi speaks of OBCs every day but what did he do for them?”, he said.

He also claimed that OBC MPs had become idols with no real authority.

“I want to find out how many OBCs there are in India and how much participation they get. OBCs should get as much share as the percentage of the population that they form. You ask any BJP MP whether he takes any decision? Participate in law-making? no way. OBC MPs have been made idols, who have no power at all,” he added.

During the Lok Sabha debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Congress leader had mentioned the lower representation of OBCs in the secretary-level positions at the Center. In response, the BJP claimed that it gave OBCs greater representation and that the total number of MPs from the community in the party was higher than that of the Congress.

Rahul Gandhi :Women’s reservation bill is “distraction tactic” of BJP-led government, nobody knows when it will be implemented

September 22, 2023, 1:35 pm

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress, claimed on Friday that the Women’s Reservation Bill is a “distraction tactic” used by the BJP-led government to divert attention away from demands like a caste census. He also claimed that it is unknown when the legislation will be put into effect. A day after the Bill was approved in the Special Session of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi called for the immediate release of the results of the previous caste census and the holding of a new one to count the population of OBCs and other underrepresented groups.

The Women’s Reservation Bill has the full support of the party, according to Rahul Gandhi, but its implementation date is uncertain because a census and delimitation exercise are needed first. He claimed that it ought to have been carried out right away.

“Women’s Reservation Bill is great but we received two footnotes that Census and Delimitation need to be done before that. Both of these will take years. The truth is that the reservation can be implemented today…This is not a complicated matter but the government doesn’t want to do that. The government has presented this before the country but it will be implemented 10 years from now. Nobody knows if this will even be implemented. This is a distraction tactic, diversion tactic,” Rahul Gandhi said.

“What is it that you are being diverted from? From OBC Census. I spoke of one institution in Parliament, that which runs the Government of India – Cabinet secretary and secretaries…I asked why only three out of 90 people belong to the OBC community?…I don’t understand that PM Modi speaks of OBCs every day but what did he do for them?” he asked.

Women’s quota Bill is the first piece of legislation to be passed by new Parliament

September 22, 2023, 10:22 am

The first Bill that the new Parliament discussed and debated before passing on Thursday was the women’s reservation Bill, or the “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam,” which ensures a quota for women in legislative bodies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the new Parliament building in May of this year.

Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die after the bill, which grants women a 33% reservation in both the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, was passed. On Tuesday, after leaving the old Parliament building, now known as Samvidhan Sadan, the lawmakers entered the new one. There could not have been a better beginning for the new Parliament building, according to JP Nadda, the national president of the BJP.

Taking to social media platform, X, Nadda said, “There could not have been a better start for the new Parliament building! Today, as a nation, we have ushered in a new era of women empowerment. With the passage of ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ by both houses of Parliament, we have moved towards providing a long-pending right to our women. Our Nari Shakti has already proven its mettle across all walks of life, and it is now imperative that they also participate overwhelmingly in our law-making processes and contribute to our nation’s growth in the Amrit Kaal.

This Bill will not only increase the number of women in the legislature, but it will also encourage all of our women to take a more active part in creating an Atmanirbhar Bharat (an independent India). I’d like to express my gratitude to @narendramodi Ji for his ongoing work to advance women. As they took turns thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the passage of the draft legislation, women MPs on the grounds of the new Parliament building raised chants of “Modi Modi.”

NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma: Women’s Reservation Bill is imperative for our nation

September 21, 2023, 4:37 pm

Rekha Sharma, chairperson of the National Commission for Women, stated on Thursday, a day after the Women’s Reservation bill was approved by the Lok Sabha, that the Bill is a historic necessity for our country. “The Women’s Reservation Bill is crucial for our country’s history. It’s not just about political representation; it’s also about making up for a pervasive wrong.

Women make up half of our population, and yet their participation in decision-making remains disproportionately low,” Rekha Sharma said. She further said, “Passing this Bill is not just a matter of political will; it’s a matter of ensuring true gender equality in our democracy. Women bring unique perspectives and experiences to governance, and their voices must be heard at all levels of leadership. It’s time to move beyond the legislative limbo and pass this Bill, paving the way for a more inclusive and progressive India.”

“The necessity of this bill lies in its potential to address the chronic gender imbalance in Indian politics, providing a platform for women to actively participate in shaping policies that impact their lives. By reserving one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women, including those from marginalized communities, the Bill promotes diversity and ensures that women’s concerns are at the forefront of political discourse,” she added.

Additionally, the provision that seats will expire after 15 years promotes a subtle but fundamental shift in favor of gender parity. She asserted that passing this legislation would be a significant step toward a more inclusive and equitable democracy in India. She continued by saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is dedicated to gender equality and providing women with equal opportunities. According to Sharma, the fact that PM Modi began with “Beti Bachao, Beti Badhao,” followed by the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, the Ujjwala Scheme, the Mahima Shakti Kendra, and now the reservation for women demonstrates his commitment to gender equality and providing equal opportunities for women.

JP Nadda: PM Modi gave decisive turn to issue of women’s reservation

September 21, 2023, 1:58 pm

JP Nadda, the president of the BJP, noted on Thursday that Indian women are leading the way in industries like science, education, and the economy and noted that the Modi administration has made progress toward empowering women over the past nine years. The BJP chief stated during the Rajya Sabha debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given the long-pending issue of women’s reservation a decisive turn by bringing a new bill to give them reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

“I would like to thank Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modji, who finally concluded the long-discussed issue of reservation for women by means of the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill. I would also like to thank him for all the efforts he has made to empower women in the past nine years,” Nadda said.

“Be it the field of science, military, education, or economy, we are proud that Indian women have been in the leading role. It is not just the presence of the women, but the respect they are gaining in the world that tells us about their contribution across fields,” Nadda said.

“Research tells us that the sensitivity of a woman is more than a man’s, as a result of which, their capability in decision-making is better and quicker… As public figures, women are more accessible than men, and even the corruption level is lower when there is a woman representative,” he added.

Nadda said that people might have different opinions about the names in response to remarks made by Congressman Ranjeet Ranjan regarding the name of the Bill given by the BJP-led government.

BRS MLC K Kavitha flags “omissions” in women’s reservation Bill

September 21, 2023, 11:19 am

One of the leading proponents of a law ensuring a more equitable representation of women in law-making bodies, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha, hailed the passage of the women’s reservation bill in the Lok Sabha as a significant step toward ensuring stronger and more significant participation of women in the political process.

However, while hailing the passage of the women’s quota Bill, she added that the exclusion of an “OBC sub-quota” from the draft legislation was “painful”.
The daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao wrote to the supremos of 47 political parties, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, earlier, calling on them to set aside political differences and prioritise the passage of the women’s reservation Bill in the ongoing Special Session of Parliament, which began on Monday.

Earlier, in March, the BRS MLC sat on a hunger strike, demanding the tabling and passage of the bill.

“I congratulate all fellow citizens, especially women, on the passage of this Bill,” Kavitha remarked after the Bill was passed by an overwhelming majority in the Lower House. This represents a significant advancement in the goal of increasing women’s political participation. The democratic underpinnings of the nation will undoubtedly be strengthened by this law. Since we are the largest democracy in the world, the level of discussion in our legislature would improve if more women participated.

On the non-provision of an OBC sub-quota in the draft legislation, she said, “There are a couple of ommissions that catch one’s eye. Not providing a sub-quota for OBC women is painful. They should have added a sub-quota in the Bill as it would ensured a similar representation of women from backward classes in the legislative process,” she said.

LoP Kharge asks to rectify loopholes in Women’s Reservation Bill

September 20, 2023, 1:59 pm

Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Congress and the LoP in the Rajya Sabha, stated on Wednesday that the Opposition will fully cooperate with the discussion of the Women’s Reservation Bill while questioning the “intentions” of the Centre in introducing it. Additionally, he claimed that the Central Government is making the Bill known in preparation for elections. He also insisted that the Bill be implemented and added that the flaws and shortcomings should be fixed.

“In 2010, we had passed the Bill in Rajya Sabha. But it failed to be passed by the Lok Sabha. That is why, this is not a new Bill. Had they taken that Bill forward, it would have been done quickly by this day. I feel that they are publicising this in view of elections but actually unless the delimitation or census takes place. You can feel how long it is going to take,” Kharge said.
“They could have continued with the earlier one but their intentions are something else. But we will insist that women’s reservation has to be brought and we will fully cooperate. But the loopholes and drawbacks should be rectified,” he added.
Meanwhile, criticizing the Centre over not including the women belonging to the backward and Scheduled Caste (SC) community, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Wednesday urged the Centre to pass the 2010 Bill in Lok Sabha and start the reservation.

Women’s Reservation Bill :Sonia Gandhi seeks immediate implementation of the bill, seeks quota for SC, ST, OBC

September 20, 2023, 12:21 pm

On the third day of the special session of Parliament, Sonia Gandhi, the chair of the Congress Parliamentary Party, opened debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. Sonia Gandhi demanded that the “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023″ Bill be put into effect right away. According to her, putting off the bill’s implementation would be incredibly unfair to the nation’s women.

“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. As 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.

In order to guarantee the participation of women from Other Backward Class/Scheduled Caste (OBC/SC) communities, she also demanded that a caste census be conducted. It was Rajiv Gandhi’s (Gandhi’s) dream (Bill), Sonia Gandhi remarked before delivering her speech in the Lok Sabha.

“This is an emotional moment of my own life as well. For the first time, Constitutional amendment to decide women’s representation in local body election was brought by my life partner Rajiv Gandhi. It was defeated in Rajya Sabha by seven votes. Later, Congress Government, under the leadership of PM PV Narasimha Rao, passed it in Rajya Sabha. As a result, we have 15 lakh elected women leaders across the country through local bodies. Rajiv Gandhi’s dream is only partially complete. It will complete with the passing of this Bill,” Sonia Gandhi said in Lok Sabha.

Priyanka Chaturvedi :”I welcome Women’s Reservation Bill, but need more clarity”

September 19, 2023, 5:16 pm

Priyanka Chaturvedi, the leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), said on Tuesday that more clarification is required for the Women’s Reservation Bill.

“Being a woman, I would say that the biggest problem women face is that of ‘character assassination’. I hope that this bill will wipe away such a mentality. The male-dominated society should remember that women too are a part of it,” she said, adding, “I believe that this bill should be implemented soon. Women should be elected in the 2024 general assembly election, and they should play roles in the development of the country.”

According to sources, the Women’s Reservation Bill was approved by the Union Cabinet on Monday. The Union Cabinet meeting took place in Delhi’s Parliament House Annexe. The bill is anticipated to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on the second day of the special session in the new Parliament building after being approved by the Union Cabinet on Monday. Mahua Maji, an MP for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), welcomed the Women’s Reservation Bill but added that the government should also consider the rights of Schedule Tribe and Scheduled Castes since they have long demanded the implementation of the women’s reservation.

RJD MP Manoj Jha on Women’s Reservation Bill :”We want more clarity”

September 19, 2023, 12:32 pm

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha demanded more information on the Women’s Reservation Bill on Tuesday, saying, “We want more clarity from the government’s side on Women’s Reservation Bill.” He added that women from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories should be given a reservation.

“If the government’s intention is clear regarding the Women’s Reservation Bill, we want some more clarity on the same. From Lalu Ji’s (RJD Chief Lalu Yadav) era, we have believed that if your idea pertains to the leadership of women,” Manoj Jha told, adding, “there needs to be a reservation for women belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories too. There needs to be a quota-within-quota. If this is not happening, we will need to fight for social justice”.

“I haven’t yet read the bill so it is not fair to comment on it. But if they (central government) are to introduce the bill which was brought up in 2010, I would request them to tout a fresh bill with provisions for women belonging to SC and ST categories included”, he added.

The Women’s Reservation Bill was approved by the Centre on Monday, according to sources. The Union Cabinet meeting took place in Delhi’s Parliament House Annexe. According to the Women’s Reservation Bill, women would be given 33% of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative bodies. The Bill has been in legislative limbo for far too long, despite being an essential step toward gender parity and inclusive governance. Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP’s IT Cell, poked fun at the Congress earlier today for claiming to be the main proponent of the women’s reservation bill.

BRS MLC K Kavitha :”Women’s Reservation Bill not being openly discussed by govt”

September 19, 2023, 11:58 am

Daughter of Telangana Chief Minister KC Rao and MLC for the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, K Kavitha, claimed on Tuesday that the National Democratic Alliance, led by the BJP, is not openly discussing the Women’s Reservation Bill during the special session of Parliament. The BRS MLC claimed, citing sources, that the Cabinet had approved the introduction of the Bill.

She also said that the government should reach out to all parties and “build a consensus”.
“Happy, we are hearing from the sources that Cabinet has cleared the introduction of Women’s Reservation Bill in the Parliament. And I hope the bill will be introduced very soon”.

The BRS members had earlier held up signs and shouted demands for the government to introduce the Women’s Reservation Bill during the current Special Session of Parliament. We therefore hope that the government will genuinely draft a bill that will be acceptable to the majority of the parties. Parties should “rise above their interest,” according to the BRS leader, and “support” the legislation. “The government ought to make contact with each party and attempt to reach an understanding. It will also send a message to the women of this country that the political parties and parliament respect them if it is passed in a cordial atmosphere. In that regard, the BRS leader said, “we wish the government was more transparent. “We wish the government was more inclusive. And we will continue to support them in whichever format the bill is introduced. BRS will support the Women’s Reservation Bill. We’ve also demanded that the 33 per cent OBC quota bill should also be introduced. I hope the government will also start working on that as well…”.

The passage of a Women’s Reservation Bill during the five-day special session of Parliament was demanded at an all-party meeting earlier on Sunday in the nation’s capital. According to the Women’s Reservation Bill, women would be given 33% of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative bodies.

‘It’s ours, Apna Hai’: Sonia Gandhi on the Women’s Reservation Bill

September 19, 2023, 10:39 am

“What about it? It’s ours. Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party, said on Tuesday, “Apna hain.” As she entered the Parliament for a historic joint session of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, both houses met for the first time in the recently opened Parliament building. Her response to reporters. Sources claim that the Union Cabinet approved the Women’s Reservation Bill, which would reserve a 33% quota in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, on Monday.

Official sources claim that the Union Cabinet approved the Women’s Reservation Bill (WRB) on Monday during a significant meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a Congress MP, stated today,”We want the Women’s Reservation Bill to be brought and passed as soon as possible. The demand for the Women’s Reservation Bill was initiated by UPA and our leader Sonia Gandhi. It took so long, but we will be happy if this is introduced.”

Jairam Ramesh, the general secretary of the Congress responsible for communications, stated earlier in the day that the party has long called for the passage of the Constitution 108th Amendment Bill, 2008 bill.

“The Congress party has been demanding the implementation of women’s reservation for a long time. We welcome the Union Cabinet decision reportedly coming forward and look forward to the details of the Bill,” he said in a post on X.

He continued by saying that a consensus could have been reached instead of using behind-the-scenes politics if this had been thoroughly discussed in the all-party meeting prior to the special session. The authority specified by Parliament shall decide how to distribute the reserved seats. The Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies must reserve one-third of the total number of seats for women from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 15 years after the beginning of this Amendment Act, the seat reservations for women will end.

Congress insists passage of Women’s Reservation Bill in a special session of Parliament

September 17, 2023, 1:32 pm

The Congress party has once again called for a larger percentage of seats in the legislature to be reserved for women, one day before the start of the week-long special session of Parliament.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated that the Congress Working Committee urges that the Women’s Reservation Bill be passed during the special session of Parliament in a post on the social media platform X.
Jairam Ramesh praised the previous Congress administrations, citing former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s introduction of Constitution Amendment Bills for one-third reservation in panchayats and nagarpalikas in May 1989. These bills were successful in the Lok Sabha but were rejected by the Rajya Sabha.

“Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao reintroduced Constitution Amendment Bills for one-third reservation for women in panchayats and nagarpalikas in April 1993. Both Bills passed and became law. Now there are more than 15 lakh elected women representatives in panchayats and nagarpalikas,” he said.

For a third reservation for women in the Parliament and state legislatures, the former prime minister Manmohan Singh introduced the Constitution Amendment Bill. The Bill was approved by the Rajya Sabha on March 9, 2010, but the Lok Sabha did not take it up.

“Bills introduced/ passed in Rajya Sabha do not lapse. Women’s Reservation Bill is still very much active. The Congress party has for the past nine years been demanding that the Women’s Reservation Bill already passed by the Rajya Sabha should now get passed by the Lok Sabha as well,” Jairma Ramesh wrote on X.
As per the Parliamentary Bulletin, released on Wednesday, a discussion on “Parliamentary Journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha – Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings” will be held in Parliament on the first day of the five-sitting long special session starting tomorrow.

SC seeks response from Centre on Women’s Reservation Bill

November 5, 2022, 12:50 pm

The National Federation of Indian Women filed a public interest litigation (PIL) on Friday asking for the revival of the “Women’s Reservation Bill,” which lapsed in Parliament eight years ago. The Supreme Court (SC) sought a response from the Central government.

Justices Sanjiv Khanna and JK Maheshwari’s bench heard the case in March of this year and ordered the Centre to respond within six weeks. They also provided the petitioner three further weeks to respond to the affidavit that the Ministry of Law and Justice was required to prepare.

“Patriarchal mindset of our society has led to the oppression of women denying them their rightful status as equals. This can only be changed if women are placed in positions of authority to effectively bring about such alterations,” read the PIL drafted by advocate Prashant Bhushan representing the petitioner

“The non-introduction of the Bill is arbitrary, illegal and is leading to discrimination,” the plea read. “Although equality of the sexes is enshrined in the Constitution, it has not become a reality even in the 75th year of Indian independence. Women represent almost 50% of the population of India but their representation in the Parliament is only about 14%,” it stated.

The evils of misogyny that exhibit in the form of rapes, outraging of modesty, eve-teasing, honour killings etc. Stem from the false notion of male superiority and authority over women and until such authority is not granted to women through concrete measures such as including more women in the Parliament, there will be no effective change in the present set up, further reads the petition.

In its judgment dated September 5, the same bench had instructed the petitioner to deliver a copy of the plea to the Centre as well, noting that it is a “important issue.” The bench sent a notice to the Center on Friday (Nov. 4) asking for its position.

In 2010, the Rajya Sabha approved the Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2008, also referred to as the “Women’s Reservation Bill.” The law, however, lapsed in 2014 after the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha.