Sonia Gandhi Asserts Ownership Of Women’s Reservation Bill: ‘It Belongs To Us, Apna Hai’

Sonia Gandhi, the parliamentary party chief of the Congress, made a significant statement on Tuesday, asserting that the women’s reservation bill “is ours.” This declaration came amid growing speculation that the bill might be presented in Parliament. The Congress party, on the preceding day, welcomed this reported development, as it has been a longstanding advocate of this legislation.

When questioned about the bill while entering Parliament on Tuesday, Mrs. Gandhi confidently stated, “It is ours, apna hai.” On the day before, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh expressed the party’s approval by saying, “We welcome the reported decision of the Union Cabinet and await the details of the Bill.” He also highlighted the possibility of discussing the matter during the all-party meeting before the Special Session to foster consensus rather than operating under a veil of secrecy.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram emphasized the potential significance of the government introducing the women’s reservation bill on Tuesday, characterizing it as a “victory for the Congress and its allies in the UPA government.” Notably, the bill had been passed in the Rajya Sabha on March 9, 2010, during the UPA government’s tenure, but it had not been taken up in the Lok Sabha.

This development marks a significant moment for the Congress party and the women’s reservation bill, reigniting hopes for its successful passage in Parliament.