You have majority in LS; pass Women’s Bill: Sonia to Modi

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in the Lok Sabha.

She reminded the PM in a letter that the Rajya Sabha had passed the legislation in March 2010 and since then it is languishing in the Lower House.

“I am writing to request you to take advantage of your majority in the Lok Sabha now to get the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in the Lower House as well,” she said, adding that her party will continue to support the legislation, which will be a significant step forward in the empowerment of women.

It was the Rajiv Gandhi government that brought reservation for women in local self governments, she recalled, but the Opposition thwarted it in the Rajya Sabha in 1989. That legislation was subsequently passed in both the Houses in 1993.

Later, Mahila Congress president and MP Sushmita Dev told reporters that the Centre is delaying the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill. She urged the BJP to show its commitment towards the legislation and shed “symbolism” over the Bill. Dev also urged the Prime Minister to ensure reservations for women before the 2019 general elections.

She recalled that when Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu was the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, he had promised that the Bill would be expedited. “Once a Parliamentary Affairs Minister makes that statement on the floor of the Lok Sabha, and if Sonia Gandhiji gives him time of six months or a year to implement that, I will say it was her faith in the government’s motive. But this did not happen.”

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