Rahul Gandhi Writes to Congress CM's For Passage of Women's Reservation Bill Ahead of Winter Session of Parliament
The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 but lapsed after the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha in 2014.
New Delhi, December 9: Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in a letter to Congress and its allied chief ministers, "reaffirmed" his support for passage of the Bill in the respective assemblies seeking one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. The winter session of the parliament is set to begin from December 11. On December 10, the government has called for an all party meeting ahead of the crucial winter session.
"In order to reaffirm our support for the passage of the Bill, it would be expedient for the state assembly to pass a resolution calling for the reservation of one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies for women, in the next session," Gandhi said in the letter written to Congress and its allied chief ministers.
Pointing out that India ranks 148 out of 193 countries in terms of the percentage of women in Parliament, Gandhi said the situation was "even worse in state Assemblies". Odisha Chief Minister and BJD President Naveen Patnaik, too, on Thursday had written to all chief ministers seeking their support to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women.
"The lack of adequate representation of women in our polity undermines our democracy and perpetuates existing systemic injustices. Women in institutions of local self-governance have not only been effective leaders, but also challenged traditional gender roles that curtailed their participation in public life," said Gandhi in his December 6 letter. The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 but lapsed after the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha in 2014. (With IANS Inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 09, 2018 06:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).