Fourteen years after it was first tabled, the women’s reservation Bill – which faces stiff opposition from regional outfits that depend on caste vote banks for political survival – looked set to be passed fairly easily in the Rajya Sabha yesterday when the BJP and the Left pledged support. Both these parties must be commended for displaying exemplary bipartisanship on such a nationally significant issue and we hope they will remain steadfast in their commitment. But as was proved yet again yesterday, one can never underestimate the resolution of parties like the RJD, SP and BSP to employ any tactic possible to stall the progress of the women’s reservation Bill.
When outnumbered, legislators from these parties resorted to unruly obstructionism, which increasingly seems to be the preferred mode of expressing dissent at the highest platform of our democracy. The RJD and SP have withdrawn support to the government, a choice they are entitled to. But they have no right to create a ruckus in Parliament, wasting precious business hours funded by taxpayers and holding the nation to ransom. The hooliganism we witnessed yesterday underlines the need for an overhaul of parliamentary politics in India. Easing the path for women to participate in greater numbers at the highest levels of legislation cannot come a moment too soon.
The government should have seen this coming and have been better prepared to ensure that the Bill went through this time around. Every time this Bill – which holds the potential of transforming India’s political reality and substantially empowering women – has been tabled in the past, it has met with stiff opposition from the RJD, SP and BSP, among others. These parties want further quotas for their own constituencies (OBCs, Muslims and Dalits) within the 33 per cent women’s quota, ostensibly because they are concerned about women from these disadvantaged groups getting fair representation. As I have pointed out before, if that concern was indeed genuine, why have these parties not nominated greater numbers of OBC, Muslim and Dalit women candidates so far? In fact, it’s the deep-rooted reluctance among some sections of our political class to create more space for women in our Parliament and state legislatures that is the real issue.
The government, along with the BJP, Left parties and other supporters of the Bill like the JD(U), should stand up to the opponents of women’s reservation and ensure that it is voted upon and passed today. Otherwise it will not only cut a very sorry figure but also pay a heavy political price.
Now, the invariable question which arises is why am I, of all people, so interested about the rights of Women. I say, that I am a great advocate for equality. Every human being should have all the privileges of life, and the perks associated with it. But when I don’t see it coming, it ruffs a few feathers, and makes me question myself if I am living in a just world. But I do have wholesome belief in the law and order of our Country. I have always been taught by my Late paternal grandfather than out of all the people in this world, women deserve the utmost respect, and affection because our Mothers are Women too. Before mistreating a Woman, he said, we should think that it is our mother who is being mistreated.
Hence, following his path, I have always had an immense respect for women. I have grown up with women. My maternal grandmother almost fostered me, my mother, my aunt, my cousin Poulami, and now many of my Best friends are women. This is why I understand women more than most guys. Also, the women in my life have given me a deeper insight into womankind. And, I have no problem in admitting that a lot of my mindset has been influenced by all these women. We are nothing without women. The improvement of the Society depends on the role they play in it.
So, here’s my all to Woman Power.
Sincerely,
Dipanjan
