JD(U) chief faults Women’s Bill
Neena Vyas
NEW DELHI: Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav on Saturday clarified that his party was “not against empowerment of women” but did not and would not support the women’s reservation bill in its present form as it would only empower those from the “elite class.”
Talking to presspersons here, Mr. Yadav also “clarified” his statement made in the Lok Sabha on Friday that he would consume poison if the bill were to be passed saying that he was only citing the case of the Greek philosopher Socrates who preferred to consume poison given to him rather than change his mind on a principle he believed in.
The JD(U) leader said that in Bihar his party had implemented 50 per cent — over and above the mandated 33 per cent — reservation for women in panchayats but had ensured that women from the weaker sections also got representation. The bill must empower the poor and the backward women.
While Mr. Yadav talked about a quota within the proposed overall women’s quota of 33 per cent for women from the Scheduled Tribes, the Scheduled Castes and the Backward Classes, he overlooked the fact that even in its present form the bill would create a 33 per cent quota for women within the reserved SC/ST seats.
That leaves out only the BCs since the Constitution did not provide reservation for them.
The counter-argument by proponents of the women’s reservation bill in its present form is that the BC sub-quota demand is a red herring being used to stall the bill. After all, there is no quota of reserved seats for the BCs and yet almost in all parties they are adequately represented because of their numerical strength in almost all constituencies throughout the country.
Wherever there are constituencies dominated by Yadavs, Kurmis, the Lodhs or OBCs, parties prefer to field women from these castes if these seats are reserved for women.
The argument against a separate quota for BCs is that they are already well represented in State legislatures and in Parliament. The need for quota for women was felt only because even 65 years since the first Lok Sabha election women have been able to get only about 10 per cent representation.
Rights denied
PTI reports:
Mr. Yadav’s statement reflects the “poisoning” of the Indian democratic polity, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said on Saturday.
“The statement reflects the mindset in a section of our political leadership which denies the rights of women. Our democratic system has been poisoned as this Bill has not been allowed to be passed for the past 14 years,” she said.
Pointing out that only four MPs belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes were elected this time from general seats, she said as reservation was required for these sections, “similar constitutional mandate is required for women. The situation is equally true for women.”
Ms. Karat said what was surprising was that despite “overwhelming evidence that women at the panchayat level have done so well, people like Sharad Yadavji try to whip up this kind of rhetoric against a measure whose time has come… He is a senior member of Parliament... Of course, it is a reflection of the frustration,” she said.
“Political will needed”
Asserting that there was a need for a political will to implement the measure, the CPI(M) leader said the women’s quota was a promise made by the Congress, BJP and the Left parties. “Now they have to deliver.”
Corrections and Clarifications
A late correction. An article "JD(U) chief faults Women's Bill" (June 7, 2009) said, in the eighth paragraph, that the need for quota for women was felt only because even 65 years since the first Lok Sabha election women have been able to get only about 10 per cent representation. India won its independence 62 years ago and the first Lok Sabha election was held in 1952. Hence it was 57 years since the first Lok Sabha election that women have been able to get only about 10 per cent representation.
Date: 6/5/2010
Courtesy: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2009/06/07/stories/2009060759970800.htm