Mayawati, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), has thrown her support behind the Women's Reservation Bill set to be tabled in Parliament. However, she advocates for a significant increase in the proposed quota for women from the current 33% to 50%.
In a statement made in Lucknow, Mayawati expressed hope that the long-pending Women's Reservation Bill would finally pass in Parliament. She underlined the importance of increasing the women's quota to 50%, emphasizing the need for greater representation and gender equality in legislative bodies.
Mayawati also called for separate reservation quotas for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) within the women's reservation framework. She argued that caste-based parties might oppose the bill, so it's crucial to ensure the inclusion of women from these categories. She warned against marginalizing these communities, drawing a parallel with actions taken by the Congress party in the past.
Furthermore, Mayawati expressed her party's willingness to support the bill if there were proposals to increase the total number of seats in Parliament. She emphasized the importance of avoiding political manipulating and urged for collective support in passing the Women's Reservation Bill.
Mayawati's stance reflects a broader consensus on the need to enhance women's participation in the political sphere, not only by increasing their representation but also by addressing the intersectionality of gender, caste, and tribal identities in India's diverse society. Her call for a 50% reservation for women underscores the significance of creating a more equitable and inclusive political landscape in the country.
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