Despite brute majority in LS, BJP stalls Women’s Reservation Bill

In a volte-face and in spite of majority in Lok Sabha, the Modi government has stated that the issue of adequate representation and increased participation of women in the political sphere needs careful consideration on the basis of the consensus among all political parties.

In the run up to the elections, the BJP had promised 33% reservation in parliament and state assemblies through a constitutional amendment. They had in their manifesto stated that, “Women’s welfare and development will be accorded a high priority at all levels within the government, and the BJP is committed to 33 percent reservation in parliament and state assemblies through a constitutional amendment.”

However, in a response to Congress MP Hibi Eden, the Minister of women and child development, Smriti Irani has stated that though they will endeavour to provide adequate representation, in case of women, it will require a consensus. “Consensus is simply a smokescreen and they are simply delaying the issue,” say activists.

The women's reservation bill has been pending for passage in Parliament for eight years. Even in 2014, the BJP had promised 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state assemblies. And despite the brute majority, the party hasn’t introduced the Bill.

“If the Bill came to Lok Sabha, we would unanimously pass it. Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi has been supporting the Bill for several years now. During UPA-2, the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha. It can only become a law if it is also passed in Lok Sabha. BJP speaks about women rights and empowerment, but they do nothing concrete about it. It is nothing but political double-speak. It is clear that it is not their priority,” underlines Eden.

It is one of the Bills that has support across Opposition too and would be the easiest to pass. Parties such as the Congress, Left, NCP, AIADMK and DMK also back it. Despite having a free hand, the commitment of the BJP and the Modi government is questionable since they have refused to bring the Bill in Parliament since 2014.

“They have instead got the Triple Talaq Bill. This was something that didn’t require a Bill. The Supreme Court had already stated it. It is clear that it was brought in to punish Muslim men. Then they got the NIA Amendment Bill, RTI (Amendment) Bill, UAPA (Amendment) Bill and several other such Bills. This is not their priority,” highlights Eden.

In the response to Eden, Irani had stated that the government has been undertaking capacity building programmes for Elected Women representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions with an objective of empowering them. “The government of the day has forgotten women got 50% reservation in local bodies because of the policies made by Rajiv Gandhi. In a state like Kerala, Panchayat institutions have 52% women. Since, 50% of the seats are reserved for women, they have won those seats and several women have contested in general seats and won those as well. But, what has this government done?” asks the MP from Kochi.

History of Women’s Reservation Bill

The Women’s Reservation Bill was first tabled in 1996, but it has never been able to pass through both the houses of Parliament. In its last attempt, the bill was passed by the UPA government in Rajya Sabha in 2010 and has remained pending in Lok Sabha and lapsed in 2014 when the lower house was dissolved.