National

Proud moment and golden day for us: Congress

NEW DELHI: Three major political formations — the Congress, the Left and the Bharatiya Janata Party — welcomed the introduction of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, but vociferous criticism came from other parties, notably the Samajwadi Party and the Janata Dal (United).

These parties have been objecting to the Bill and obstructing it for more than a decade on the ground that it should create a quota for Backward Classes women within the overall women’s quota.

Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan saw it as a “proud moment and a golden day” for the Congress as it was a commitment of the party president and part of its manifesto and the Common Minimum Programme of the United Progressive Alliance government. She added that it had taken so much time as “there was need to bring our allies on board.” She was certain that the government and the Prime Minister would take all the necessary steps to ensure its passage.

Brinda Karat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said “the first hurdle has been crossed.” She saw nothing wrong in the procedure adopted – bringing it on the supplementary agenda – as this “was always there.”

Ms. Karat, however, said the Bill should not be “refrigerated” in the Standing Committee and the panel should give its report within a fixed time-frame.

She wanted the government to show the political will and determination to get the Bill passed despite opposition.

Communist Party of India MP Gurudas Dasgupta was critical that it was not done earlier. Let the government prove its credibility by calling a special session of Parliament to pass the Bill, otherwise it would be seen as an election stunt.

Sushma Swaraj of the Bharatiya Janata Party expressed “satisfaction” that the Bill had been introduced. But she was critical of the manner in which it was done “at the fag end of the UPA rule.” She was “optimistic” about the Bill’s passage. She hoped it would be done quickly to enable the benefit to be given to women in the next Lok Sabha election.

Ms. Swaraj termed the demand for an OBC quota for women within the larger 33.3 per cent reservation “unconstitutional” as there was no OBC quota in Parliament. However, the Bill would give Dalits and Scheduled Tribe women their share from the SC/ST quotas.

The BJP leader praised the government for introducing the Bill in the Rajya Sabha for “it will not lapse.” She, however, said “the main issue is passing of the Bill.”

At a meeting in the chamber of the Rajya Sabha Chairman, she said, she requested the Prime Minister to take steps for early passage of the Bill during the next session.

On the JD(U)’s opposition to the Bill, she said the BJP would support it in any form, but not all its NDA allies do.

Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav assailed the “backdoor” manner in which the Bill was introduced and said this was a “mockery of the law.” A constitutional amendment should have been circulated 48 hours in advance to every member and it cannot be brought on the supplementary list of business.

The Samajwadi Party’s opposition was well demonstrated in the House itself with some members trying to physically prevent the Bill’s introduction. One member tore up the supplementary business agenda.

The Janata Dal (Secular) described the introduction as a “gimmick” ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls. It pointed out that it was during the Prime Ministership of its leader H.D. Deve Gowda that the Bill was first introduced in 1996. Party spokesperson Danish Ali said the move would be a non-starter.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu