The Hindu : PM's stand on women's bill hypocritical: Brinda Karat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 31, 2003

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PM's stand on women's bill hypocritical: Brinda Karat

By Our Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE MAY 30. The national general secretary of the All-India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), Brinda Karat, said today that the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, was being "hypocritical" on the Women's Reservation Bill.

Addressing a press conference here, she alleged that Mr. Vajpayee was indulging in "political match-fixing" along with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha who was against reservation for women in legislatures. "Only a `small minority' was blocking the passage of the Bill. But there was a "very big question mark" over the Prime Minister's own approach to the Bill.

"Despite the Congress and the Left parties giving in writing and parties such as the AIADMK, the BJP, the TDP and a number of NDA allies voicing their support for the Bill thus ensuring a two-thirds majority in both the Houses of Parliament, the Prime Minister has refused to put it to vote. But he refers it back to the Speaker explicitly stating that it is up to the Speaker. Is this not hypocrisy and practising double-standards? Does this not reveal his total lack of will and commitment (for the women's reservation)," she asked.

According to her, the issue was not one of "male vs. female" but the "vision of democracy" in which a substantial section of the population was being denied an opportunity to govern.

She refused to subscribe to the view that even in Panchayati Raj institutions, where women had been granted reservation, they were being "remote - controlled". During the last six to seven years, there had been a "tremendous increase" in the participation of women.

Ms. Karat called for a "total reversal" of the Central Government's food policy alleging that the economic reforms had resulted in less food for the poor, especially women. According to a survey by the AIDWA in eight States, women were getting less than what they were able to eat 10 years ago. Their calorie intake had gone down by 30 per cent and their access to food was also going down. She blamed the Centre for such a pathetic situation despite huge stocks in its godowns.

She demanded universalisation of the public distribution system and withdrawal of "targeting" under the Antyodaya scheme. On the basis of the Supreme Court judgment, this scheme (which provided for purchase of rice at Rs. 3 a kg and wheat at Rs. 2 a kg) should be extended to all widows automatically.

Adverting to the transfer of seven lecturers of the Queen Mary's College, Chennai, who took part in the recent agitation of the students against demolition of the college buildings for construction of the new secretariat, Ms. Karat and U. Vasuki, State general secretary of AIDWA, alleged that it was nothing but "victimisation". Such an order issued when the issue was sub judice was "contempt of court".

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