Salutations Mrs. Sonia Gandhi!
The historic bill to reserve one third of the seats in the national assembly for women candidates would not have passed in Rajya Sabha if not for the determination of the leader of the congress party Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. The bill has been languishing in the Indian parliament for 15 years. The 100th anniversary of the International women’s day and the presence of a determined leader in the reigning congress party finally paved the way for the bill to pass the first hurdle in the Rajya Sabha. The bill was approved 186 to 1 with minor party’s abstaining. Abstaining is a mild word. They had to be evicted from the Sabha for continuous disruptions of the proceedings. Mrs. Gandhi is taking a risk alienating the small but important minority parties because without their support the ruling alliance will have difficulty ensuring passage of budget which is due by or before March 31. She took the risk because as she said, the reservation has to be done. She said “ every time a woman’s name comes up nominations they say she can’t win and this and that and this situation will continue if we don’t do something”.
Yes, a reservation is a heavy-handed approach for empowering women. As Lau Prasad correctly said “ ”In the name of reservation, prominent (political) leaders’ (parliamentary) chances will be spoiled.” Imagine if we in Sri Lanka had a reservation for women, many more women would have worked their way for a nomination and UPFA will be forced to give places to Mrs. Ashoka Lankatilake, a third term provincial councilor and five other women in a list of 20 candidates for the district of Colombo. The UPFA leaders will have to consider leaving out some of the big spenders like Duminda Silva and others.
However, as Sonia Gandhi correctly pointed out, vested interests are too powerful and women will never get a chance if we as a society do not approve a reservation. What is more important? The political career of a few, or true democracy through opportunity of representation for half the population?
Details:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Womens-reservation-bill-in-Parliament-on-Monday-smooth-passage-likely/articleshow/5647761.cms
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article223804.ece
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_it-s-done-women-s-reservation-bill-over-the-hump_1357385
Seven Samajwadi, RJD and Janata Dal (U) members were physically evicted from the RS when they obstructed the debate on the bill. In the process, the Congress also alienated an ally, Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, who didn’t want to be seen on the same side as the Left in backing the bill.
The final vote showed 186 votes in favour of the bill and one against in a 245-member house with an effective strength of 233. Two MPs of the Trinamool Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party abstained from voting.
Mrs. Gandhi took a risk by alienting them minority parties because their support is needed to pass the budget.
