RJD demands reservation for OBC women in new Bill

New Delhi [India], September 21 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal member Manoj Jha taking part in the discussion on the women’s reservation Bill on Thursday on behalf of his party in the Rajya Sabha demanded that women belonging to Other Backward Classes be incorporated in the legislation.

“There is still time available and I request the Bill is sent to a select committee and incorporate OBCs, along with SC and STs,” Jha said.

“Nobody is discussing the Bill being passed in the Lok Sabha but are talking about the injustices done to OBC women.”

Citing late political leader Sarojini Naidu and her demand for an “equal representation” in legislatures, Jha asked why the Bill intends to give reservation to only 33 per cent and why not 50 per cent or 55 per cent.

Speaking before Jha, YSRCP member V Vijayasai Reddy demanded reservation of women in the Upper House and the state legislative councils.

“Law Minister, please take note of it,” Reddy told Arjun Ram Meghwal.

YSRCP has often supported in passing of various bills brought by the BJP-led government.

Reddy also suggested that the month of September be announced as “women’s history month”.

“I strongly suggest and request September be declared as women’s history month,” he said.

As tabled in the Parliament, the new women’s reservation Bill in its current form says it will be effective once the decennial census and delimitation of constituencies are done.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal had on Tuesday introduced the new Bill — Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, in its very first sitting of the Lok Sabha in the new Parliament complex, which was passed on Wednesday in the Lower House.

The Women Reservation Bill seeks to guarantee 33 per quota for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Reservation for women in Parliament and Legislative assemblies has been a promise of many parties, including the BJP for years.