LIVE | Day 3 in Parliament: Lok Sabha passes Women Reservation Bill after 8-hour debate
Naveen Patnaik's BJD demands immediate implementation of Women's Reservation Bill
BJD MP Sarmishta Sethi in Lok Sabha: Naveen Patnaik's BJD also demands immediate implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill, says the current Bill only brought with an eye on polls as it can't be rolled out before 2029. BJD also supports demand for OBC quota within quota. BJD had started reserving 33 per cent of tickets for women candidates since the 2019 polls and will continue to do so irrespective of when the Women's Reservation Bill comes into effect.
Nitish Kumar: I have been in support of women’s reservation
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asserted that he was in support of women’s reservation in Parliament and state assemblies though there must be provisions for adequate representation of SCs, STs, OBCs and EBCs.
Speaking to reporters in Patna, he urged the Centre to move fast on implementing the proposals in the women's reservation bill by conducting the census, and consider his long-standing demand for a caste census.
"I have been in support of women’s reservation. Why should they not be assured representation? My speeches during the days I was a member of parliament bear testimony to my stand that remains unchanged," said Kumar.
"We have ensured adequate representation of women wherever it is possible. In panchayats, urban local bodies, government jobs, including the police force, the representation of women in Bihar is highest for any state in the country," he added.
Kumar said it must also be ensured that there is a provision for ensuring that women from SCs, STs, OBCs and EBCs get adequate representation.
"It is, though, regrettable that even if the bill is passed, actual implementation shall hang fire till census, followed by delimitation," he said.
Rajiv Gandhi's dream will be fulfilled: Sonia Gandhi
"Rajiv Gandhi's dream is only half fulfilled. It will be fulfilled with the passage of this bill. The Congress supports this bill. We will be happy with the passage of this bill but we also have a concern. I want to ask a question, for the last 13 years Indian women are waiting for their political responsibilities, and now they are being asked to wait for a few more years -- two years, four years, six years, eight years," Sonia Gandhi said in Lok Sabha.
"It is the demand of the Indian National Congress that the bill be immediately implemented... but along with that, provision should be made for the reservation of SC, ST, OBC women after conducting a caste census," she said.
"Can't men speak on women's issues?" - Amit Shah asks Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Union Home Minister Amit Shah wondered whether Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was "jealous" of Nishikant Dubey, who was the first speaker from the BJP ranks on the women's reservation bill in the Lok Sabha.
Shah's remarks came after Chowdhury and other opposition leaders pointed out that the BJP was fielding a male member to speak on the debate on the Bill.
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi was the first speaker on the bill from the Opposition ranks.
"I wish to ask Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury whether only women should speak on these issues. Can't men speak on women's issues," Shah asked.
He also wondered why there should be any objection to Dubey being the first to speak on the Bill.
"Perhaps he (Chowdhury) is jealous because he did not get to be the first speaker," Shah said.
Women's Reservation Bill is about removing bias, injustice: DMK's Kanimozhi
The Women's Reservation Bill is not about reservation but an "act of removing bias and injustice," DMK leader Kanimozhi said in the Lok Sabha while asserting that women want to be respected as equals.
Participating in the discussion on the constitutional amendment bill 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', she said the clause pertaining to 'after delimitation' in the bill should be removed as there could be an inordinate delay in the implementation of the reservation for women.
The 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, as proposed in the bill, will come into effect only after census and the delimitation exercise.
"How long should we wait to see this bill implemented? It can be easily implemented in the coming Parliamentary elections. This bill, you should understand, is not a reservation but an act of removing bias and injustice," she said.