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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BJP does not follow democratic norms: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi
Kozhikode(Kerala) (PTI): Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who arrived on a two day visit to Kerala after her maiden electoral win, on Saturday attacked the BJP by accusing it of not following usual democratic norms even in political fights.
Priyanka compared the BJP's behaviour with the landslides that hit Wayanad in July, saying just like the natural disaster the saffron party's conduct knows no rules, offers no explanations and follows no democratic norms that are normally adhered to in political fights.
"The political challenges we face (from the BJP) today are like the landslides. There are no rules. There are no explanations."
"The behaviour of the ruling party (at the Centre), the BJP, knows no democratic norms, not even those we normally adhere to in a political fight," she said while speaking at a joint public meeting, with her brother and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, at Mukkam here.
She further contended that institutions were being destroyed leading to the wavering of the people's basic faith in the electoral process and "the institutions that held our country together".
Priyanka assured the people of Wayanad LS constituency that she was in the Parliament for them and it is their voice that she will raise there.
"It is your voice that I will raise, it is your problems that I will try to resolve and it is your beliefs, values and aspirations that I will stand for each and every day from now till the end," she said.
After the joint public meeting at Mukkam in Thiruvambadi assembly constituency here, receptions will be held for her at Karulai in Nilambur, Wandoor, and Edavanna in Eranad during the day, the party said.
The Wayanad constituency comprises seven assembly segments of Mananthavady (ST), Sulthan Bathery (ST), and Kalpetta in Wayanad district; Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district; and Eranad, Nilambur, and Wandoor in Malappuram district.
Priyanka had scored her maiden electoral victory by winning the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll with a huge margin of 4,10,931 votes, which is bigger than the lead her brother Rahul secured when he won from the constituency during the Lok Sabha general elections held early this year.
