(Commentary)
The status of women in India as well as many parts of the world is nothing to write home about and the occasional newsiness of the Women's Reservation Bill has over the years become a convenient political tool to raise a storm whenever the periodic test of elections are round the corner or a social point needs to be scored.

Political parties of national importance would like to hang any journalist or supporter of the cause of women who expresses criticism of the blatant use of this convenient political tool while smaller political denominations find it very inconvenient to grant this right to their women folk. The perception of these parties is that their women are not educationally or intellectually ready to bear the responsibility as elected representatives of the people. There is no indication as yet that this perception is true or even accurate.

The latest attempt by the government United Progressive Alliance this time, supported, surprisingly by both CPI(M) and Bhartiya Janta Party was able to table the bill in Rajya Sabha, amidst high drama, even as members of Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janta Dal and Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party tried to foil Law Minister Hansraj Bhardwaj from reading and then tabling the proposed bill. The Bill, which has been hanging fire for about 12 years spanning the tenures of four Central governments, seeks to provide reservation for women in 33 percent of seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The draft Bill was cleared in its original form by the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at a juncture when the Congress led coalition had promised the measure in its Common Minimum Programme, is entering the last year of its five year term. The Bill has been referred to the Standing Committee soon after being tabled in the Upper House. Not withstanding its introduction and despite support of the majority of Parliament, including the Congress BJP and Left, the Bill as has been seen, in the introductory stages is unlikely to have a smooth passage, given the fierce objections to it from UPA constituents like Rashtriya Janta Dal and Lok Janshakti Party, the NDA allies like Janta Dal United and parties like Bahujan Samaj Party, who have been stridently pressing for a quota within quota in the proposed reservation for women belonging to weaker and backward sections, including other backward classes and minorities. Atleast two earlier attempts to introduce the Bill in Lok Sabha during the late 1990s have seen unruly scenes including instances of copies being snatched and torn up.

Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav the RJD leader has said his party was never against the introduction of the long delayed measure, but favoured subquotas for women from deprived sections like Dalits, tribals, OBCs and minorities. The SP general secretary Amar Singh has said when it comes to reservation, Yadavs cutting across party lines – Mr. Lalu Prasad of UPA Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav of SP and Mr. Sharad Yadav of NDA -- hold the same position against it. Aware of the resistance from its own allies, the Congress Party said it would continue its endeavour to work out a consensus in the UPA on the issue, to be followed by an all party consensus.

At the end of the three month long budget session of Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi expressed confidence that the Bill to give women political reservation would be passed during the tenure of United Progressive Alliance government on the basis of consensus. He hoped that the Bill would be back from the Standing Committee before the start of the Monsoon session in July. He said every effort was being made to arrive at a consensus, first within the UPA. In the Standing Committee the Bill would be discussed in detail and Members of different political parties could give their suggestion.

All sections of UPA had been assured by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA chair person Sonia Gandhi that their views would be taken into account during deliberations in the Standing Committee. And also that there would be consensus within UPA on the introduction of the Bill.

In his press conference at the conclusion of the budget session, Mr. Ravi dismissed all technical objections to the manner in which it was introduced -- without advance circulation and by including it at the last minute in the supplementary agenda of the day. This, he said was done under Rule 123 and was perfectly legal. There was no substance in the criticism that the government had circumvented rules, he said.

The Minister stressed the importance of the Bill being introduced in Rajya Sabha as it would not lapse even at the end of the present government's tenure. This was in contrast to the introduction by different governments thrice in Lok Sabha in the past when the Bill lapsed each time a new Lok Sabha was constituted. Referring to the unruly scenes witnessed in Rajya Sabha, Mr. Ravi pointed out MPs did have a right to object, but this did not include physical objection or obstruction, which he described a most unfortunate.

Congress member of Rajya Sabha Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan moved a privilege motion against the Samajwadi Party member Abu Azim Azmi under Rule 187 of the Rules and Procedure of Rajya Sabha for pushing and manhandling her and other women members in his attempt to attack Law Minister H R Bhardwaj. In her notice submitted to Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari, Ms. Natarajan said when the Minister was introducing the 108th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2008 for one third reservation of seats for women in Parliament and state Assemblies, the member had to be stopped with assistance of other members. His behaviour has violated all norms of civilized and appropriate conduct and has brought the House to grave disrepute. It has also prevented us from carrying on our responsibilities as members, the motion added.

With such personal and political animosity, not many people are confident that the Bill will be passed smoothly.

EMAIL THIS NEWS COMMENTS No comments yet