Rahul Gandhi urges Modi to support women's reservation bill
New Delhi, July 16 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek his support for the passage of the Womens Reservation Bill in Parliament's monsoon session, claiming that the BJP appears to have had second thoughts on the proposed law even though it was a key promise in its 2014 manifesto.
The Congress leader said that the bill -- passed by the Rajya Sabha in March 2010 -- has been stalled on one pretext or the other in the Lok Sabha for over eight years now.
Gandhi said that the bill holds the potential to transform the country's governance and any further delay will make it impossible to implement it before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
"I write to request (for) your support to ensure the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in the coming monsoon session," he said. The monsoon session is slated to begin on July 18 and will continue till August 10.
"Given the fact that the BJP and its allies have a majority in the Lok Sabha, all this landmark (proposed) legislation requires to become a reality is your support. I am sure it will not be withheld," Gandhi said.
The bill seeks to reserve one third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and the state Assemblies for women.
Gandhi said that when the bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with BJP support, then Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley called it "historic and momentous".'
"Since then, while the Congress has been unwavering in its commitment to the bill, the BJP appears to have had second thoughts even though it was one of the party's key promises in the 2014 manifesto," Gandhi said.
The Congress chief said that Modi should point out to BJP sceptics opposed to its passage that the experience with governance at the panchayat and municipal levels has shown that women in leadership positions are more likely to take decisions that further the cause of an inclusive and just society.
Gandhi said that Modi had spoken about his passion for empowering women in many of his rallies in the past.
"What better way to demonstrate your commitment to the cause of women than by offering your unconditional support to the passage of the bill? And what better time than the coming session of Parliament? Any further delay will make it impossible to implement it before the next general elections," Gandhi said.
He said that the Congress had collected 3.2 million signatures in support of the bill.
"We submit these signatures to your care and humbly seek your support in ensuring that the bill is passed by Parliament so that women can participate more meaningfully in the next Lok Sabha polls and the state elections later this year."
The Congress leader called for a bipartisan approach on the issue of empowering women.
"Let us stand together, rise above party politics and send India a message that we believe that the time for change has come. Women must take their rightful place in our state legislatures and Parliament where they are at present abysmally represented," Gandhi said.
Our PM says he’s a crusader for women’s empowerment? Time for him to rise above party politics, walk-his-talk & have the Women’s Reservation Bill passed by Parliament. The Congress offers him its unconditional support.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 16, 2018
Attached is my letter to the PM. #MahilaAakrosh pic.twitter.com/IretXFFvvK
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismisses defence minister in surprise announcement
Jerusalem, Nov 5: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday dismissed his popular defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in a surprise announcement that came as the country is embroiled in wars on multiple fronts across the region.
Netanyahu and Gallant have repeatedly been at odds over the war in Gaza. But Netanyahu had avoided firing his rival. Netanyahu cited “significant gaps” and a “crisis of trust” between the men in his Tuesday evening announcement.
“In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and defence minister,” Netanyahu said. “Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defence minister.”
In the early days of the war, Israel's leadership presented a unified front as it responded to Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. But as the war dragged on and spread to Lebanon, key policy differences have emerged. While Netanyahu has called for continued military pressure on Hamas, Gallant had taken a more pragmatic approach, saying that military force has created the necessary conditions for a diplomatic deal that could bring home hostages held by the Hamas group.
Gallant, a former general who has gained public respect with a gruff, no-nonsense personality, said in a statement: “The security of the state of Israel always was, and will always remain, my life's mission."
Gallant has worn a simple, black buttoned shirt throughout the war in a sign of sorrow over the October 7 attack and developed a strong relationship with his US counterpart, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
A previous attempt by Netanyahu to fire Gallant in March 2023 sparked widespread street protests against Netanyahu. He also flirted with the idea of dismissing Gallant over the summer but held off until Tuesday's announcement.
Gallant will be replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, a Netanyahu loyalist and veteran Cabinet minister who was a junior officer in the military. Gideon Saar, a former Netanyahu rival who recently rejoined the government, will take the foreign affairs post.
Netanyahu has a long history of neutralising his rivals. In his statement, he claimed he had made “many attempts” to bridge the gaps with Gallant.
“But they kept getting wider. They also came to the knowledge of the public in an unacceptable way, and worse than that, they came to the knowledge of the enemy - our enemies enjoyed it and derived a lot of benefit from it,” he said.
