By Manzar Bilal and Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: With enthusiasm and determination Muslim women in Patna today demanded their exclusive shares in Women’s Reservation Bill. A number of Muslim women from across the city, mostly burqa wearing, sat on dharna under the banner of Bihar Muslim Khawateen Morcha at Kargil Chowk protesting against the bill in its present form and demanding quota for Muslim and backward women.
In fact, Kargil Chowk is one of the places in the city where agitation is part of daily routine but today’s was especial one as burqa clad Muslim women who are believed to be engaged only with house works were seen full of excitement who came out of their houses and announced that they are ready to fight for their rights on their owns.
They blamed Congress to have secret understanding with BJP to work on anti-Muslim agenda. They demanded the government to reconsider the decision about the bill otherwise they would agitate before state Assembly and Parliament.
“Muslim women have been neglected in the country. Since independence only 16 Muslim women were able to enter the Parliament. Currently, out of 59 women MPs there are only two Muslim women. This disappointing result is because of discrimination has been done with Muslim women. Therefore we demand fair share in the Women’s Reservation Bill to make sure our due representation” said Shahzadi Perveen of Digha, who was leading the dharna.
“We are ready to adopt the formula “do or die” for our rights. We salute those who are raising voices for our rights in Parliament and will do jail bharo tahreek if our demand is not fulfilled” she added.
In her welcome speech Ms. Mumtaz Jahan, a ward counciller, said: “Gandhi ji has launched agitation against injustice of British government in Champaran district of Bihar which brought freedom to us now an agitation against dictatorship of elite people has started in the same state which will reach all over the country and finally we will defeat the oppressive forces.”
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Nazneen Parveen from Phulwari Shareef said: “We are not given our rights being at homes so we came out on the road and we will continue fighting until we are given 10% exclusive quota within 33%. Government should not consider us weak we are daughters of Razia Sultana, Noor Mahal and Chand Bibi Begum and have capacity to fight for justice and cane bring down the government. So, our demand should not be overlooked anymore.”
While Ms. Roohi Parveen said that government should give chances to Muslim women to show their abilities: “We have always been pushed behind. Otherwise, we are not less than others in abilities and capacities. We demand quota in Women’s Reservation Bill so that we can take part in the building of society and country.”
“We have been deprived of our rights but now we are not ready to see our new generation dwindling for their rights in their lives. We reject the Women’s Reservation Bill in its present form because it will snatch our representation in legislative houses. We will gharao Parliament and will also go to Supreme Court” declared Naghma Khatoo, a ward member.
Besides, many of them also spoke on the occasion. When TwoCircles.net talked to some of them at sideline of the program they all repeated their demand that they want 10% reservation within 33% and for that they are ready to go any extant and to pay any price but they no longer ready to be ignored.
The dharna went at its prime stage when RJD chief Mr. Lalu Prasad along with his wife Mrs. Rabri Devi,ex-Bihar CM and leader of opposition in Bihar Assembly,reached there for few minutes. He was welcomed by program organizers and thanked for his efforts in Parliament for Muslim women.
Mr. Lalu Prasad repeated his stand of quota within quota for marginalized class women and said that he is ready to be thrown out of Parliament but will never ever favor the bill in its present form.
He appreciated the Muslim women present there: “Muslim women from Bihar have led over others to stage such massive dharna for their rights now we will raise the issue in the Parliament in more organize way. For that you have to continue your work at outside the Parliament”
The dharna was also joined by many other RJD leaders including Shakeel Ahmad Khan, spokesperson of RJD, Ghulam Ghose, leader of opposition in Bihar legislative Council, Nihaluddin, RJD MLA, Ram Chander, RJD MLA. They encouraged Muslims women to march ahead for their rights.