Hamara Bill: Congress, BJP take credit for Women's Reservation Bill

Hyderabad: Congress today claimed that the Women's Reservation Bill was the brainchild of the UPA which got it passed in Rajya Sabha in 2010.

“It is ours. Voh hamara Bill hai (it's our bill),” former Congress president Sonia Gandhi said as she arrived in the Parliament.

Women’s Reservation Bill was passed bythe Rajya Sabha in 2010 amid ruckus. The then Congress-led United Progressive Alliance was not able to introduce the bill in Lok Sabha as there were objections from their alliance partners.

K Kavitha welcomes the decision

Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLC K Kavitha has welcomed the reported decision of the union cabinet approving the bill but also expressed apprehensions on what the contents of the bill are.

Kavitha says, “There is no official communication from the union government. Everybody has learnt the development through media.”

"I am elated, I am very happy and I am on cloud nine dancing away but also worried a little bit," Kavitha said on Monday, welcoming the Cabinet's reported decision, but was cautious as to what would be the format of the bill or will it be the same one passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 amid other doubts.

Kavitha has taken up the demand for the women’s reservation bill in the last few months. She also carried out a protest in New Delhi to remind the government of the bill.

Debate on X

Minister of State Prahlad Singh Patel on Monday posted on social media platform X that the Cabinet has approved the women's reservation bill, but deleted the post within an hour.

While there was no official word on what transpired in the Cabinet meeting, which lasted for more than 90 minutes on Monday evening, speculations were rife that it approved the women's reservation bill.

Government sources had earlier indicated that the bill has been approved by the Cabinet and is likely to be tabled in Parliament.

BJP stand on the bill

BJP had mentioned the bill in their manifestos in 2014 and 2019 but the bill was delayed. Now with the complete majority in the Lok Sabha will the bill be passed is a question.

Kapil Sibal responds

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Tuesday attacked the government amid speculation that the Women's Reservation Bill may be brought in Parliament, asking why Prime Minister Narendra Modi waited for almost 10 years for it and saying that probably 2024 general elections are probably the reason. "But if the government does not provide quota for OBC women BJP may also lose UP in 2024! Think about it!" he said.

CWC meeting

In the recently concluded Congress Working Committee meeting in Hyderabad, the Women’s Reservation Bill was one of the resolutions.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “We are very clear about the bill. Government must introduce the bill in Lok Sabha and pass the bill.”

Brief history of the bill

Women’s Reservation Bill was first introduced by Rajiv Gandhi in 1989. There were the first Constitution Amendment Bills for one-third reservation in panchayats and nagarpalikas in May 1989. It was passed in the Rajya Sabha but could not be passed in Lok Sabha.

Former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao reintroduced Constitution Amendment Bills for one-third reservation for women in panchayats and nagarpalikas in April 1993. Both bills were passed and became law.