In a significant move, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has thrown her weight behind the urgent enactment of the women's reservation bill, all the while advocating for an OBC (Other Backward Classes) quota within the reserved seats. Gandhi declared her party's unwavering support for the bill during her address in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, highlighting that its passage would be a fulfillment of her late husband Rajiv Gandhi's aspirations.
Gandhi passionately articulated her stance, asking, "The Congress party supports The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. We will be happy if the bill is passed. But I want to ask, in the past 13 years, women have waited patiently for this bill. But now, our women have been asked to wait for some more years. How many years? 2, 3, 6, 8? How many years?"
Her reference was directed at a provision in the bill that stipulates its enactment after the delimitation exercise, which is not scheduled before 2026, and the completion of the decadal census initially due in 2021.
Gandhi pressed on, stating, "The Congress wants this bill to be implemented immediately. But along with this, SC (Scheduled Caste), ST (Scheduled Tribe), and OBC women should also receive reservations. Furthermore, a caste census should also be conducted. Any further delay in implementing this bill will be an injustice to women. It must be implemented promptly."
In her maiden speech in the new Parliament, Gandhi celebrated the power of women in India, acknowledging, "Women in India have consistently worked selflessly for the greater good, much like a river benefiting everyone. The patience of women is unfathomable. They have nurtured intelligence and hard work within us."
Gandhi fondly remembered the contributions of Indian icons like Sarojini Naidu, Sucheta Kriplani, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, and Aruna Asaf Ali. She emphasized, "Women stood shoulder to shoulder with men during the struggle for independence and the nation-building process. Sarojini Naidu, Sucheta Kriplani, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, and Aruna Asaf Ali toiled tirelessly to realize the vision of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and Maulana Azad."
Earlier, on Tuesday, Gandhi had referred to the women's reservation bill as "our bill," and on Wednesday, she recounted how former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had championed the first bill for women's quota in municipal bodies and panchayats.
"Later, PV Narasimha Rao passed the bill. Today, 15 lakh women leaders are serving in panchayats and municipal bodies as a result of the bill. Rajiv Gandhi's dream was partially realized, and it will be fully fulfilled after this bill is passed," stated Gandhi.
The Union cabinet, in a significant move, approved a constitutional amendment bill on Monday evening, paving the way for the introduction of the landmark legislation to provide reservations for women in the national and state legislatures during the ongoing special session of Parliament.
The demand to reserve seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies has been a longstanding one, aimed at increasing the representation of female lawmakers. Past attempts to pass such legislation in Parliament have faltered due to deep political divisions.
In the 2010 version of the bill, which was only passed by the Rajya Sabha, there was no provision for subcategories of castes within the women's quota, such as separate divisions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, a key demand of many regional parties.
