PM Wasn't Briefed Properly, Congress Supported Women's Reservation Bill Wholeheartedly: Sharad Pawar

NCP chief Sharad Pawar took a jibe at PM Modi and said that he wasn't briefed properly but Congress and its allies supported the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament whole-heartedly.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar ( Image Source :PTI )

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said that the Congress and its allies supported the Women's Reservation Bill wholeheartedly in Parliament but, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not briefed correctly about it. He stated that the previous Congress governments in Maharashtra and at the Centre had taken steps for the empowerment of the female strata of the society, reported news agency PTI. Pawar's remarks come just a day after PM Modi in Madhya Pradesh said that the Congress and its allies in the new 'Ghamandia' alliance reluctantly supported the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament. 

While addressing a press conference, the NCP chief said, "PM Narendra Modi spoke of Congress and 'Ghamandia' allies supporting the Women's Reservation Bill reluctantly. But this is not true. All of us have wholeheartedly supported the bill. The PM was not appropriately briefed."

Pawar stated that on June 24, 1994, the Congress government which was headed by him in Maharashtra had unveiled a women's policy and it was the first of its kind in the country. He added, "Similarly, the Congress government at the Centre had brought the 73rd constitutional amendment, which paved the way for 33 per cent quota for women in local bodies. When I was Defence Minister, 11 per cent reservation was given to women in Army, Navy and Air Force."

Pawar was asked about his meeting with industrialist Gautam Adani in Ahmedabad to which he said that he had gone to inaugurate an industrial unit that belonged to a businessman from Baramati and Adani was the chief guest of the function held at Sanand industrialist estate, PTI reported.

While talking about the ongoing strains in the relationship between India and Canada, the NCP chief said that as an Indian citizen, his total support will be with the policy that the Indian government brings, reported PTI.