Women's Reservation Bill: Sonia Gandhi calls for immediate implementation of SC, ST, OBC reservation

Women's Reservation Bill: On the third day of the special parliamentary session, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi initiated discussions on the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. Expressing her support for the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023' Bill, Sonia Gandhi called for its immediate enactment.

She emphasised that any delay in implementing the bill would be an injustice to the women of the nation. In her address to the Lok Sabha, Sonia Gandhi stated, "I stand in support of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhinyam 2023. Women are being told that they will have to wait more for this bill to become law. We demand that the bill be made a law immediately, as a delay in implementing the bill is a gross unfairness to women in the country. I appeal to the Government to do this immediately."

Sonia Gandhi also called for a caste census to ensure the representation of women from Other Backward Class/Scheduled Caste (OBC/SC) communities in political participation.

Before her speech in the Lok Sabha, Sonia Gandhi expressed, "It was Rajiv ji's (Gandhi's) dream (Bill)." She shared the historical context, stating, "This is an emotional moment in my life as well. For the first time, a Constitutional amendment to determine women's representation in local body elections was introduced by my life partner, Rajiv Gandhi. It was defeated in the Rajya Sabha by seven votes. Later, the Congress Government, under the leadership of PM PV Narasimha Rao, passed it in the Rajya Sabha. As a result, we have 15 lakh elected women leaders across the country through local bodies. Rajiv Gandhi's dream is only partially complete. It will be fulfilled with the passage of this Bill."

While expressing her support for the Bill, Sonia Gandhi also raised concerns, stating, "I would like to ask a question. Indian women have been waiting for their political responsibilities for the last 13 years. Now they are being asked to wait for a few more years. How many years? Is this behaviour with Indian women appropriate? The INC demands that the Bill be implemented with immediate effect, and a caste census should also be conducted, along with arrangements for the reservation of SC, ST, and OBC women."

The discussion on passing the Bill in the Lok Sabha began at 11 am, with Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introducing amendments to the Bill. The Bill is scheduled to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha on September 21, according to government sources.

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