By TCN Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Just 3 days before the 100th Anniversary International Women Day, various religious Minority and Dalit groups rejected the Women Reservation Bill in its present form and urged for an inclusive one. The proposed bill is likely to be presented in Parliament for passage on March 8, 2010, which is also 100th Anniversary International Women Day. The Union Cabinet has already given its nod.
In joint press conference called by All India Milli Council, other Muslim and minority and Dalit groups feared, “If (the bill) passed in its present form, it would amount to injustice against the women belonging to minorities, Dalits and other backward classes. It is our firm view that the proposed 33 per cent quota in legislatures for women would lead to further asymmetry in the representation of various classes and groups in the country.”
The groups demanded quota for Muslim, other minority and Dalit women within the quota for the women reservation in the bill. Groups also urged political parties to play a constructive and proactive role in providing justice to the marginalized communities, rising from any individual and group interests.