BSP Chief Mayawati Says Women's Reservation Will Take Around 15 Years, Wants Separate SC, ST Quota

Mayawati said that the Women's Reservation Bill would be approved in Parliament, but won't be implemented before the next census. She said certain provisions in the Bill would delay its enforcement.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Wednesday said that the Women's Reservation Bill will be delayed as it has certain provisions that would make it difficult to be implemented before 15-16 years. "There are some provisions in the Women's Reservation Bill that will delay its implementation by 15 to 16 years," Mayawati said at a press conference.

Underlining that the Bill would be approved in Parliament, but won't be implemented before the next census, Mayawati said: "A Census would be conducted in the country once the (Women's Reservation) Bill is passed by the Parliament. It would get the nod (from Parliament), but won't be implemented immediately." 

Mayawati further said that this bill was brought in with the elections in mind and wasn't intended to actually give reservation to women.

On Tuesday, the Women's Reservation Bill was tabled in Parliament for debate by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. This is the first legislative proposal presented in the new Parliament building. "The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 is a very important Bill. We are inserting Article 239AA, through which 33% women will get reservations in the national capital territory (NCT) of Delhi. We are making an amendment in Article 330A through which, reservation of seats for SC/ST which is already there, we are including 33 per cent reservation for women," Meghwal said.

Mayawati on Tuesday said that her party fully favours the passage of the Bill, which stipulates reservation of 33% of the seats for women in Parliament and in the legislative assemblies in the country. 

Mayawati, going a step ahead, said that the BSP would favour 50% reservation for women in both Houses of Parliament. "Instead of 33%, if the quota is hiked to 50%, keeping in mind the population of women, our party will welcome it wholeheartedly.

She further pointed out that women from SC, ST, and OBC categories should not be included in the women's reservation quota. "Reservation quota should be ensured separately for those belonging to SC and ST communities. Otherwise, it will be unjust to these communities," she said

She targeted the BJP and the Congress, saying that if women from "backward communities" are not given reservation separately, "casteist parties" will try to keep them backward.

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