The NCP (SP) on Wednesday said that party supremo Sharad Pawar introduced reservation for women in local self-government bodies in Maharashtra decades ago, and the BJP should acknowledge his contribution to women`s empowerment, reported PTI.
A special three-day sitting of Parliament has been convened from April 16 to 18, during which amendments to the `Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam`, commonly known as the Women`s Reservation Act, mandating 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, will be brought for implementation in 2029.
In a statement, NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said, “In Maharashtra, it was Sharad Pawar who (as chief minister) implemented 33 per cent reservation for women in local self-government bodies, which was later increased to 50 per cent. Pawar was a key architect of women`s empowerment in governance,” reported PTI.
“The BJP-led government should acknowledge Pawar`s contribution during discussions on the women`s reservation bill,” he added.
Pawar also took steps to facilitate women`s employment in the armed forces when he was defence minister and proposed 50 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies as early as 2012, the spokesperson further said, reported PTI.
Fadnavis urges Maharashtra MPs to back women`s quota bills
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has appealed to MPs from the state to participate in the special Parliament session aimed at clearing the `Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam` bills to ensure early implementation of the Women`s Reservation Act, reported PTI.
In a letter written earlier this week to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, and presidents of political parties from the state, the CM said the passage of the bills would be a historic moment, reported PTI.
He urged all MPs to be present in Parliament to support the bills, keeping with Maharashtra`s tradition of backing women`s empowerment. The CM said the state has already ensured a 50 per cent quota for women in local bodies, reported PTI.
The government is moving towards an early implementation of the Women`s Reservation Act, for which a special session of Parliament will be convened from April 16 to 18.
Lok Sabha seats will be increased to up to 850 from the current 543 to “operationalise” the women`s reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise to be carried out based on the last published census.
According to a draft Constitution amendment bill, which will be introduced in Parliament, seats would also be increased in state and Union territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
(With inputs from PTI)
