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New Delhi. Only two MPs voted against the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, while the bill was passed (Bill passed i) with a majority of 454 votes in support. According to reports, Asaduddin Owaisi and Imtiaz Jaleel might have voted against the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Act’ because All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) had opposed the bill. During his debate, Owaisi said that this bill will only facilitate the participation of upper caste women.
After the bill was passed, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked NK Premachandran to clarify the point of his amendment, in which he said that ‘as much as possible’ it should be removed before one-third of the seats are passed and essentially should be included. NK Premachandran said, “This is a normal amendment.” Union Home Minister Amit Shah explained why the word ‘almost’ has been used because it will be decided by the Delimitation Commission. Premachandran said, ‘Subject to clarification, I am withdrawing my amendment.’
‘Allah is with us’
After this the speaker asked Owaisi to present his views. Owaisi said that he will present his amendment and demand division on it. Om Birla said, “No one is in your favor.” On this, Owaisi and AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jalil pointed towards the sky and said that Allah is with them.
Women’s Reservation Bill: Why did Owaisi’s party oppose it?
Owaisi asked why OBC and Muslim women, who are less represented in Parliament, are not being given any quota in the Women’s Reservation Bill. Owaisi said, “I oppose this law… The justification being given for the bill is that more women will be elected to Parliament. If this is the justification, then why is that justification not being extended to OBC and Muslim women whose representation in the House is minimal.”
‘Representation of Muslim women in Lok Sabha is only 0.7%’
Owaisi further said, “We know that Muslim women constitute seven percent of the population, but their representation in this Lok Sabha is only 0.7 percent.” He said, “This central government wants to increase representation for upper caste women. They do not want representation for OBC women and Muslim women. “690 women MPs have been elected to the Lok Sabha and only 25 of them have come from the Muslim community.”
Owaisi targeted the center
AIMIM MP Owaisi said, “I have heard that reservation cannot be given on religious grounds? What is the Presidential Order of 1950? By denying reservation in this reservation, you are betraying Muslim women.”
After the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Bill’ becomes law, the number of women members in the 543-member Lok Sabha will increase from the current 82 to 181. 33 percent seats will be reserved for women in state assemblies also. Currently, the provision of reservation has been made in the bill for 15 years and the Parliament will have the right to extend it.
