Political parties must give 33 pc tickets to women: NDA
DH News Service New Delhi:
Earlier suggested by Election Commission, the proposal was discussed in a
meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to elicit NDA’s views on the
issue.
In a bid to resolve the vexed issue of Women’s Reservation Bill, the BJP-led NDA
opposition on Wednesday suggested that political parties should distribute 33
per cent of the tickets to women candidates.
The proposal, which was earlier suggested by the Election Commission, was
discussed in a meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to elicit views
of NDA as part of the UPA government’s exercise to build up consensus on the
controversial bill.
Stating that political parties should be asked to earmark 33 per cent of the
tickets for women, veteran BJP leader V K Malhotra said, “it is an easier
process as the Government would not have to amend the Constitution and a small
modification of the Representation of Peoples Act would serve the purpose.”
Both the formulae of quota for Muslim and backward class women within the
stipulated 33 per cent reservation and that of increasing the number of seats in
legislature had been rejected by the BJP.
When asked about the change in BJP’s position on the issue, party leader Sushma
Swaraj said, the implementation of the proposal would at least bring in 20 to 25
per cent women candidates instead of the present eight per cent.
JD (U) stand
JD (U) represented by party chief George Fernandes and Nitish Kumar, however,
said if the bill was introduced in its original form, it would demand quota for
Muslim and backward class women within the stipulated 33 per cent reservation.
“But if it is left to the political parties, then it should not be any problem
to us,” said Mr Fernandes.
Besides, the Prime Minister, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Defence Minister
Pranab Mukherjee, NDA chairperson and former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and BJP
President L K Advani were also present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, women activists had reiterated their demand for the early passage of
the bill.
In a joint statement issued by All India Democratic Women’s Association, Centre
for Women’s Development Studies, Joint Women’s Programme and National Federation
of Indian Women said the objections being made by some parties on the basis of
caste-based reservation within reservation were not new and in the name of an
“ever-elusive consensus” this should not be allowed to interfere with the
process of bringing the bill to Parliament for voting.
“It is the responsibility of the Centre to fulfill the promise made in the
Common Minimum Programme and ensure that the bill is introduced in Parliament
without delay,” it said.
[Deccan Herald, Thursday, August 25, 2005]
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug252005/national144642005824.asp