Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha, on Tuesday stated that the women's reservation bill was previously approved in 2010, after the Centre submitted legislation seeking 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and legislative assembly, news agency ANI reported. While addressing Rajya Sabha at the new Parliament building, Kharge stated: “They don't give us credit but I want to bring to their notice that the Women Reservation Bill was already passed in 2010 but it was stopped."
Kharge claimed that political parties have a propensity of selecting 'weak' women and will not select those who are educated and capable of fighting, sparking objections from the Treasury benches.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman retaliated against Kharge, and stated: "We respect the leader of the opposition but to make a sweeping statement that all parties choose women who are not effective is absolutely unacceptable. We all have been empowered by our party, PM. President Droupadi Murmu is an empowered woman".
In response to Sitharaman, Kharge stated: “Women from backward, ST don't get such opportunities which they are getting, this is what we are saying”.
Earlier, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Law Minister, introduced the women's reservation bill in the Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the law and urged all Rajya Sabha members to unanimously adopt the women's reservation bill 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' when it gets to the Upper House after being enacted by the Lok Sabha.
'Constitution No Less Than Gita, Quran..' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary In Lok Sabha
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, stated on Tuesday that he felt uplifted after having the opportunity to address the members of parliament, news agency ANI reported. On the second day of a five-day special session, the Congress leader read out the Preamble to the Constitution in the Lok Sabha at the new Parliament complex, saying that it is no less than the sacred writings like Bhagwat Gita, Quran, and Bible for us. "This Constitution is no less than Gita, Quran and Bible for us. Article 1 says, "India, that is Bharat, shall be a union of states," It means that there is no difference between India and Bharat. It will be better if nobody tries to unnecessarily create a rift between the two," he said.
Addressing the joint session of both Houses of Parliament before to the move of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to the new edifice, Chowdhary stated: "Having seized this opportunity, without making any compunction and without mincing any word, I must state that I feel elevated and elated of having stood in this podium which had witnessed a caravan of historical episode and numerous momentous events in the midst of the galaxy of luminaries who had racked up their brains and burned the midnight oil to frame the Constitution of India in this august House which was called the Constituent Assembly."
The Congress legislator was addressing the political slugfest over India versus Bharat issue which was erupted when an invite for a G20 dinner was sent out in the name of the 'President of Bharat' instead of the normal 'President of India'. The attack on the term 'India' began when 26 opposition parties banded together and formed the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A).
"On January 2, 1974, the objective resolution was adopted here which was proposed by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehruji, inspired the shaping of our constitution. From the colonial past to independent India, we have observed the transition of the destiny of this great country, named after 'India'. The 389 members of the parliament discussed among themselves for two years, 11 months and 19 days and produced the world's largest constitution led by Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the father of the constitution", he added.
In the meantime, the Congress LoP claimed credit for the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women Reservation Bill).ny idea how a country is recognised as a developed nation'. "Women reservation was brought by PM Rajiv Gandhi in local body elections. Since then, Congress has been trying to bring law to give one-third reservation to women in Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies. It used to sometimes get passed in Lok Sabha, but failed in Rajya Sabha and vice-versa. The bill brought by the Manmohan government is still active," Chowdhury claimed.