Pass women’s reservation bill, V-P Naidu tells parties
BHOPAL: Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said all parties should reach a consensus to clear the long-pending women’s reservation bill.
The bill seeks to provide 33% reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures.
At a state-level convention of women’s self-help groups (SHGS) here, Naidu said, “Women are given reservation in local government bodies. Efforts are on for women’s reservation in Parliament. I personally support it (women’s reservation bill).” He said, “I hope all political parties reach a consensus so that women can be given reservation in state legislatures, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. This issue should not be given a political hue.”
Naidu said when women were given reservation in panchayats, many had claimed that it was the woman’s husband who was actually ruling. “However, a change is being witnessed. Women would soon learn to fight for their rights,” he said, noting there should be a change in the law as well in the mindset.
Stressing that women’s empowerment could create a new India, he said the focus should be on the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ programme.
He also said there should be no discrimination between a son and a daughter and that ancestral or family property should be equally distributed.
Naidu also took potshots at those who opposed the Centre’s Jan-dhan Yojana, saying that after November 2016, people realised its importance.