26.2.10

Women’s Reservation Bill


The Union cabinet on Thursday cleared the Women’s Reservation Bill which has been hanging fire for close to 14 years. And this time, the bill might go through in Parliament as the Congress, BJP and the Left have pledged support to it. The three parties put together add up to the necessary two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha for the constitutional amendment, but fall manageably short in the Rajya Sabha. In short, astute floor management by the Congress in the 15th Lok Sabha could see 33% of all seats in Parliament and state assemblies being reserved for women. Such a large representation of women in the legislatures could not only change the emphasis in policies but also alter the very nature of politics in India. This gender-bender of a move by the Congress leadership has been aided by the absence of parties like Lalu Prasad’s RJD in the UPA and the reduced relevance of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Both OBC chieftains have relentlessly opposed the bill, demanding that one-third of the proposed women’s bill be earmarked for OBCs and minorities. JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav is another opponent, but the BJP, Congress and the Left can help carry the day. They can also bank on the DMK which has come around to the argument that the priority is to get the gender quota introduced, while other details can be negotiated later. If the bill is to become reality, it will require a Constitutional amendment. For that the bill must get the vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting, but not less than the majority mark of the House. The government — having cleared the bill — is not bound by fresh recommendations or dissent notes made by the standing committee on law and justice which submitted its report in December 2009.
The women’s reservation bill can be placed for consideration and passing in the form that it was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in 2008 and for this reason it is likely to be placed for consideration in the Upper House first. The government needs 158 votes to meet the two-thirds mark in the Rajya Sabha. The Congress, BJP and the Left add up to 137 MPs in the House, a little short of the requisite figure. It is here that some clever floor management would be necessary. Once cleared by the Upper House, the bill is as good as through because in the Lok Sabha the three blocs virtually have the requisite numbers. The government also has the option of holding a joint session as the NDA had done to pass the anti-terror POTA bill. The government managers will also be counting on the support of the DMK, some smaller groups and independents as well as on the possibility of the BJD not opposing the bill outright, to get its numbers. DMK spokesman said T K Elangovan said, “Let the bill be passed first, we will see quota within quota later.’’ Even the AIADMK supports women’s reservation “in principle’’, while Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar does not share the intensity of the opposition of his JD-U colleague Sharad Yadav. Other than those of the Congress, BJP and the Left who support the bill, the other MPs in the Rajya Sabha include seven of the AIADMK, 12 of the BSP and four of the DMK—sufficient for a two-thirds majority. In the Lok Sabha, the government can count on the support of 19 Trinamool MPs, 18 from the DMK and nine from the AIADMK. BJP’s Arun Jaitley welcomed the move, saying his party would support the proposed legislation in Parliament. Expressing her party’s backing for the proposed legislation, CPM leader Brinda Karat said, “We are glad the bill has got the cabinet nod.’’ Sources said the bill could be placed in Parliament this session itself as suggested by President Pratibha Patil in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament. The UPA move is powered by the keen interest of Sonia Gandhi in the bill. She has batted strongly for it and has expressed her despair over the aggressive opposition in Parliament. If it does become law, it will be a fitting tribute from the Congress to the year-long centenary celebrations of International Women’s Day this year. Given the huge political point, the BJP and the Left are unlikely to be found wanting. It is not clear if smaller regional parties will oppose it outright as even if parties like Mayawati’s BSP support the bill, it will go through.

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