File photo of HD Deve Gowda. (Image: PTI File)
Pointing out that the Modi-led government enjoys a majority in Parliament and may succeed in getting it passed, the JD(S) patriarch in his letter to the Prime Minister said women in legislatures and Parliament should be given a Giving third reservation an idea whose time has come
Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi To consider passing the Women’s Reservation Bill before the 2024 general (Lok Sabha) elections.
Pointing out that the Modi-led government enjoys a majority in Parliament and may succeed in getting it passed, the JD(S) patriarch in his letter to the Prime Minister said women in legislatures and Parliament should be given a Giving third reservation is an idea whose time has come.
“When the Election Commission recently announced elections in Karnataka, and released the number of eligible women voters in the state, it was not surprising that they were almost fifty per cent of the total electorate. The figures differ in other states of India. No. This prompted me to revisit the idea of reservation for women in legislative assemblies and parliament,” Gowda said.
In a letter dated April 10 released on Saturday, he highlighted that as Prime Minister he had brought the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament in 1996 but failed to see it through. Later efforts by the UPA government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2008 also did not reach its logical conclusion.
Gowda said that both the times when attempts were made to pass the bill, the governments did not have a majority and were dependent on their coalition partners. “In your (Modi) case, you are lucky that you have a majority in Parliament and you can get it passed,” he said.
“Therefore, I urge you to consider passing the Women’s Reservation Bill before the 2024 general elections. Suitable amendments may be made to the drafts of the Bill presented in 1996 and 2008. Adherence to the principles of social justice is the key to success.” will be the key.” For this great step towards gender justice,” he said.
The idea of giving one-third reservation to women in legislatures and parliament is an idea whose time has come, he added, adding, “It will be a symbolic gesture to bring in this bill and pass it, because we are looking for a new and very modern Parliament House. Our mothers and sisters deserve better than us.” The former prime minister also said that considering the Women’s Reservation Bill would send a positive message to the world when India leads the G20. “It will tell the world that we are serious about our democracy and want to deepen it.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)