Mahila Cong demands Centre to implement women reservation law
Jaipur, April 24 -- Mahila Congress members clashed with police in Jaipur on Monday as they marched towards the chief minister's residence, demanding immediate implementation of the Women's Reservation Act, 2023.
To be sure, the Act, which mandates a 33% (one-third) reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, came into force on April 17. It can be implemented after carrying out a delimitation exercise on the basis of the next Census.
Led by national president Alka Lamba, the activists tried to gherao the BJP headquarters but were stopped at barricades on Sansar Chandra Road. A prolonged scuffle erupted as protesters pushed forward.
Congress workers raised slogans against the Centre and the BJP, then burnt an effigy of PM Narendra Modi. Demonstrators shouted "PM kursi chhodo" as agitation intensified.
Addressing newspersons, Alka Lamba said the Opposition had not opposed the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament but had objected to the delimitation provisions linked to it. She alleged that the Centre was delaying implementation despite the bill being passed in 2023. "The government is trying to defame the Opposition while avoiding immediate enforcement. We demand that 33% reservation be implemented without delay," she said.
Lamba asserted that the Congress and Opposition parties would continue nationwide protests to "expose the Centre". She accused the Rajasthan government of trying to suppress women's voices through police action but said the movement would continue.
She demanded that 33% of the 543 Lok Sabha seats-around 180 seats-be reserved for women immediately, with further adjustments to be considered after the next census.
Earlier, addressing party workers, Lamba rejected BJP's allegations that Congress is anti-women, claiming that the party has played a pioneering role in empowering women in India. She accused the BJP of misleading the public for electoral gains, asserting that the ruling party lacks genuine intent to implement women's reservation....
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