Rahul Gandhi
The long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill has been cleared by the Union Cabinet in order to be introduced during the current special session of Parliament, which has been praised by the Congress. Once passed, the constitution amendment measure will guarantee a reservation for women in state and federal legislatures.
An old letter from Congressman Rahul Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been widely leaked. In the letter, Gandhi discussed providing ‘unconditional support’ to pass the bill to give women parliamentary reservations.
“Our Prime Minister claims to be a champion for women’s empowerment. It’s time for him to put party politics aside, act on what he says, and see that the Women’s Reservation Bill is approved by Parliament. He has the Congress’ undivided backing, as the 2018 letter, which Congress MP Jairam Ramesh released, states.
Since 1996, there have been numerous unsuccessful attempts to draft legislation establishing legislative reservations for women. Due to some pressure from allies, the UPA government in 2010 was able to pass the bill in the Rajya Sabha but was unable to table it in the Lok Sabha.
Our PM says he’s a crusader for women’s empowerment? Time for him to rise above party politics, walk-his-talk & have the Women’s Reservation Bill passed by Parliament. The Congress offers him its unconditional support.
Attached is my letter to the PM. #MahilaAakrosh pic.twitter.com/IretXFFvvK
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 16, 2018
In his letter, Rahul Gandhi drew attention to the fact that the BJP had previously backed the bill, which Union Minister Arun Jaitley had dubbed “historic and momentous.”
However, it is asserted that the new bill won’t be the same as the one from 2010 and that the scope of reservations will probably extend beyond the Parliament and state legislatures. A major demand of several regional parties, the quota within quota provision was not included in the earlier bill.
