The Hindu : National : “BJP dillydallying on women’s quota Bill”

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“BJP dillydallying on women’s quota Bill”

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) has questioned the sincerity of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the Women’s Reservation Bill that envisages reservation of seats for women in Assemblies and Parliament.

In a statement here on Friday, NFIW general secretary Annie Raja accused the BJP of dillydallying on the issue. She said the BJP leader Sushma Swaraj had some time back supported the Election Commission’s proposal on reservation by the political parties but had now again decided to support the original Bill.

On the Janata Dal(United) position on the Bill, Ms. Raja said the party supported reservation within reservation, which showed the ‘hypocrisy’ of the party and the attempts to scuttle efforts to bring the draft legislation.

Putting a precondition was nothing but denying the women their right to participate in the decision-making process, she said.

The JD(U) and other parties demanding reservation within reservation were shedding crocodile tears in the name of women, she charged.

On the statement of the All India Congress Committee chairman Veerappa Moily that the Congress was trying to find a consensus, Ms. Raja said the party should make its position clear on what it was looking for to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in elected bodies.

The Left parties, the DMK, the PMK and the TDP have extended their support to the original Bill. Ignoring such wide support and talking of consensus was nothing but going back on the national common minimum programme.

It indicated that the United Progressive Alliance, particularly the Congress, like the BJP, lacked the political will and social commitment, she said.

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