Dr. K. Veeramani
Recently, 33 per cent reservation for women in the Parliament and State Assemblies has been hastily cleared by the BJP headed Union Government, and the President has assented it but gender justice combined with social justice has not found a place in the Bill concerned. The fear of electoral defeat in 2024 is obvious through this deceptive task. They cannot go on hood winking people for an endless period. Our women folk should defeat the BJP in the forthcoming Parliament election in 2024.
Not fully Satisfactory
The bill related to 33 per cent women’s quota in legislatures has been on the back – burner for the past 13 years and more. Reservation for women in the Parliament and Assembly constituencies has remained an unsettled issue but in the maiden session itself in the new Parliament building, the said bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has also endorsed subsequently the women reservation bill 2023 reserving one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
It is an unpalatable truth that their clearance for women’s quota does not make us truly happy and hence we are unable to welcome the grant whole heartedly. That is mainly because the Bill does not seem to be of any immediate benefit to women. It is an insidious move that foretells imminent danger. It has been clearly stated in the Bill itself that it cannot and would not be implemented in the forthcoming General election. The words – “15 year sunset” clause makes it quite clear.
Definitely, the women’s quota will not be implemented in the 2024 election for want of the completion of the decennial census 2021. The expressly mentioned Delimitation process in the Bill cannot be carried out for the want of census statistics. The opposition parties invaribaly insist on the categorization of women reservation for BCs/ MBCs and SCs/STs which the BJP government has not acceded so far. With all these it is not definite that the women’s reservation would be implemented even in 2034 election though not in 2029.
A Mirage for Women
This seems to be a long term process since the withheld census is to be resumed and completed before implementation. It has to be followed by Delimitation process. If the women’s quota would be granted only after all these stages, it would be a mirage in a desert for women. The hunt for water would be an optical illusion for them.
A five – day long special session was announced in a hurry, secretive about the said Bill to be tabled. Everything seems to be a trap of trickery laid by the BJP headed Union Government. Women would have expected their dream to come true atleast in 2024 but the implementation has been put off to 2029. It is an utter disappointment to womenfolk, pulling wool over their eyes.
It is evidently not a move with the true intention of securing women’s rights and enabling them get appropriate representation in the Parliament as well as State Legislative Assemblies. The bill does not seem to have been passed with this objective.
Implementation denied
The BJP headed, RSS backed Union Government under the leadership of Modi is in the grip of the fear of defeat in 2024 election. It has begun to crave for the votes of womenfolk to grab the throne again. It has pinned its hope on this move, expecting to win atleast by this latest strategy as a new ploy. The display of this rainbow-like spectrum is caused by their fear of electoral defeat – not to safeguard women or to grant them rights. It is a clever move as the last resort.
Gender Justice combined with
Social Justice
The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and many prominent opposition party leaders have rightly pointed out this fact quite appropriately. Besides, there is another vital aspect to be considered.
The clearance for women’s quota remained hindered and unimplemented for all these years mainly because of the dispute that it should not remain merely as Gender Justice but must be combined with Social Justice.
Because of the failure to implement the said Bill in time, the backward class women in society were unable to get representation in the Parliament and State Legislative Assembly Constituencies. Such women who form a major segment of the population suffered social injustice owing to the inordinate delay in passing the Bill. The entire country and all the backward classes suppressed women in society can never forget this unpardonable injustice. Women already have representation in SC/ST constituencies. They cannot bring about any change in it, but don’t they require the representation of women who hail from O.B.C./M.B.C. classes in society? There is no provision and place for that in this bill.
The number of MPs could shrink
Another hidden agenda of the RSS also gets exposed based on the population size per constituency. The number of constituencies in the Hindi speaking population belts of Northern India is likely to be increased based on the population size per constituency. The number of constituencies in states such as Tamil Nadu could be curtailed since those states had successfully implemented the family planning programme. By this ploy, the gulf between the North and South could be widened.
The number of Parliament members of several states would shrink. This is likely to happen after the process of Delimitation. Realising the strategy, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has already made it clear that the reduction of Tamil Nadu constituencies would never be allowed since it may lead to reduction in the number of MPs from Tamil Nadu and many other states that actively implemented family planning programmes.
He has taken this precautionary preventive measure sensing the imminent hazard. He has cautioned the Union Government not to invite trouble by any such unacceptable move. Our womenfolk cannot be taken for a ride by such gimmicks of the RSS backed BJP Government. They are quite alert.
The verdict of the people
The ‘Gujarat Model’ Government is adept at such a hide and seek game but the Dravidian Model Government in Tamil Nadu always means what it says and says what it means. It would never deceive. The people would pronounce their verdict in 2024 and teach a lesson to all the toxic forces. This women’s quota Bill is like a silly game of kids. Granting a favour and denying at the same time is ridiculous indeed.
Naming the Bill ‘Nari Shakti’ is deceptive. It is a ploy to entrap women and grab their mandate. These toxic forces can no longer take our womenfolk for a ride. Let them await the verdict of women in 2024. A wise judgment is certain.
