By IANS,
Jammu : Describing those opposing the women’s reservation bill as “masters” unwilling to share power, union Minister for Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah Saturday said “no one can stop” women from getting their share in legislative bodies.
“They are the people who want to see women confined to kitchens and four walls of homes,” said the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister at a book release function here.
Abdullah, father of three daughters, said women “must get their share in the legislative bodies as also in other fields of life. No one can stop that from happening.”
He said it was imperative for the development of society and nation. “We cannot afford to live in the 16th century in 21st century. There is a need to move ahead, and we will do that,” he said to a resounding applause from the audience.
The ruling Congress party has vowed to introduce in the Lok Sabha the bill that proposes to reserve 33 percent seats in parliament and the state legislatures for women.
However, the bill before being tabled has already received vehement opposition from Janata Dal-United chief Sharad Yadav, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Lalu Prasad. They are terming the bill as a conspiracy against regional parties to keep their leaders away from power.
Rebel Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh has also opposed the bill.