Credit war over women’s reservation bill: Cong claims its own, others see ‘motive’ in it

New Delhi: Amid proposed introduction of Women’s Reservation Bill in the Special session of Parliament, a credit war has broken out between the ruling BJP & Opposition Congress while other parties are also expressing their reservations over the bill.

Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, when asked about her reaction on Union Cabinet approving the bill last evening, said, “it’s ours, apna hai”.

Her remarks came while entering the Old Parliament building today, where the lawmakers assembled for their last photo-op and paying tributes to the old complex.

#WATCH यह हमारा है, अपना है: महिला आरक्षण बिल पर कांग्रेस संसदीय दल की अध्यक्ष सोनिया गांधी, दिल्ली pic.twitter.com/cnMoUValYT

— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) September 19, 2023

Notably, the Union Cabinet on Monday evening approved a proposed Constitution amendment to provide 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha & State Assemblies. Government is yet to make any official statement on this but many reports confirmed the news, citing top sources.

Latest reports claim that the legislation will be tabled in the Lok Sabha today, in the first sitting of New Parliament and the bill will be tabled in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The legislation/bill will guarantee 33% quota for women in Lok Sabha & State Assemblies.

RJD to TMC, parties take tactical stand

Political analysts believe that the BJP will position this legislation as government’s mega push for women empowerment and emancipation, though the party spokesperson have remained tight-lipped on its proposed tabling in House.

A couple of Congress leaders extended support to the women’s reservation bill but claimed it was their gamechanger legislation that is being brought by BJP.

Cong leader P Chidambaram said that if govt introduces the bill, it will be victory of the party & its allies in UPA government.

If the government introduces the Women’s Reservation Bill tomorrow, it will be a victory for the Congress and its allies in the UPA government

Remember, it was during the UPA government that the Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on 9-3-2010

In its 10th year, the BJP is…

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 18, 2023

TMC spokesperson called it a politically motivated decision of BJP govt though refrained from opposition it while RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha demanded for quota within the quota.

#WATCH | On the Women’s Reservation Bill, RJD MP Manoj Jha says, “For the first time there was no briefing in the cabinet meeting…We want more clarity on the intentions of the government on the Women’s Reservation Bill. From Lalu Yadav’s time, our party believes that if your… pic.twitter.com/utRWjZhEgF

— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023

#WATCH | Delhi: On the Women’s Reservation Bill, TMC MP Dola Sen says, “It is a compulsion of the election, nothing else. Elections are approaching, they have done nothing in the last 9.5 years…If they will bring the Women’s Reservation Bill, we will support it…Better late… pic.twitter.com/D5CI2psUgg

— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) extended support to the proposed legislation but added that it should have been passed years ago.

#WATCH | On the Women’s Reservation Bill, AAP MP Sushil Gupta says, “For a decade this bill was pending after being passed by the Rajya Sabha. It should have been passed almost ten years ago when the Modi government came into power. For this, a special session had to be called.… pic.twitter.com/R5b3LZPmEA

— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023