Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Hypocrisy to the fore

The hypocrisy of political parties of all hues has been exposed by their failure to arrive at a consensus on the Women's Reservation Bill. The BJP's volte face has been most disappointing. Its decision to favour one-third ticket allocation in party lists against reservation of seats in Parliament is sabotage in its most brazen form.

The Congress has not shown a firm resolve in introducing the Bill either. It is most unfortunate that the Bill is being held hostage to indecisiveness and a desire to maintain status quo.

C. Ramachandraiah,
Hyderabad

Political parties and women's groups should assess the problems in implementing the Bill. Passing it is not an end in itself. We all know how 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies has been implemented. In many cases there is proxy rule by husbands or other male relatives.

This being the end result of a bill passed a decade ago to empower women at the grassroots level, it is better to analyse all the aspects in detail before passing the Bill to reserve seats in Parliament.

Naveen Marrapu,
Hyderabad

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

A flawed constitution fans disaffection
A balanced scorecard
Energy security and the search for new options
The new Vietnam at sixty
Pakistan's religious parties losing ground?
Elections: don't expect too much
Climate change adds to Africa's woes
Hypocrisy to the fore
The Chidambaram issue
Disappointing
Uncharitable
Uses of homeopathy
Nuclear issue: "India is a unique case"

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu