AIMIM chief Owaisi wants quota for Muslim women in parliament

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has called for quotas for Muslim women in parliament, saying their representation was dangerously low.

The Hyderabad MP said this at an election rally at Bihar's Kishanganj, the lone Muslim-majority Lok Sabha seat in the state where the AIMIM's provincial unit chief and MLA Akhtarul Iman is a candidate.

Not against women

"The BJP-RSS falsely accuse the AIMIM of being against women's participation in politics. As early as 2004, we had fielded a female candidate in Secunderabad," said Owaisi, referring to late Humera Aziz.

"Our point is (that) 17 Lok Sabha polls have been held in the country but the number of Muslim women who became MPs has been just about 20. So why not reservations for Muslim women?" he asked on Sunday (April 21).

Bill amendment

Owaisi recalled the derision he faced upon moving an amendment in the Lok Sabha to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam brought by the Modi government.

"Speaker Om Birla said to me you want to bring in an amendment but there is hardly anybody to back you. I replied Allah is with me," the AIMIM chief recalled.

Poor representation

"My argument is that Muslims and the backward classes together comprise about 65 per cent of the total population. We cannot deprive women of this vast social segment of their rights," said Owaisi.

The AIMIM has said it will contest over a dozen Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, which elects 40 members to parliament.