THE Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had given a call to observe a day on July 15, demanding the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the monsoon session of the parliament, which ensures 33 per cent reservation for women in parliament and state assemblies. Hundreds of people, especially women, participated in the protest demonstrations across the country.
It has been more than 20 years since the time the bill was first introduced in the parliament by H D Deve Gowda led government in the year 1996. In the year 2003 albeit a strength of two thirds in the Lok Sabha in favour of the bill, the then BJP led government deliberately sidelined it. The Congress led UPA was forced to pass it in the Rajya Sabha in the year 2010 under the pressure of struggles of the Left parties, in particular the CPI(M), both on the streets and in the parliament. The attitude of the Narendra Modi led government is no different than that of the previous NDA government.
Addressing the dharna organized by the Delhi state committee of the CPI(M), CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury reiterated the demand to pass the bill in the monsoon session of the parliament. Exposing BJP’s blatant lies he said that the BJP talks of passing the bill once they have a majority in the Rajya Sabha whereas it has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha in the year 2010. The BJP being the political wing of the RSS believes in the Manusmriti which recognises women as second class citizens. The regressive and pernicious ideas of RSS have to be defeated. When we discussed and voted in favour of the 33 per cent women’s reservation for the panchayats then it was the same set of people who argued against it and said that women are not capable of doing anything except for household work. He said CPI(M) will strengthen its struggle in the entire country against this very idea and for the passage of this bill.
The dharma was also addressed by CPI(M) Central Committee member PMS Grewal, CPI(M) Delhi state committee members Asha Sharma, Maimoona Mollah, Rajeev Kunwar, Siddeshwar Shukla, Jagdish Sharma, Rampal, Neel Gagan and others. The dharna was presided over by CPI(M) Delhi state secretary KM Tiwari and state committee member Nathu Prasad.
WEST BENGAL
On July 15, women activists organised mass signature collection in support of reservation of seats for women in parliament and assembly. AIDWA activists campaigned and collected signatures at railway stations, bus stands, busy street corners and markets. Rallies and processions were organised in many districts.
KERALA
In Thiruvananthapuram, thousands of women marched towards Raj Bhavan demanding the immediate passage of women’s reservation bill in Lok Sabha. The procession began from Martyrs Column at Palayam, with shouting slogans against the BJP’s government’s indifferent attitude towards the women of the country. Speaking at the march, CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the BJP government in the centre follows an ostrich policy towards the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha. This indifferent stance reflects BJP’s anti-women position which is based on ‘Manusmriti’. CPI(M) Party Congress had moved a resolution supporting the bill as this move would empower women and bring social justice. Under the BJP rule the women would not get justice, he said.
CPI (M) district secretary presided over the function. LDF convenor Vaikom Vishwan, T N Seema, A Sampath MP also spoke. The march was led by AIDWA leaders including T N Seema, S Pushpalatha, V Ambili, J Arundhathi and M G Meenambika.
TRIPURA
At the call of CPI(M), all over Tripura mass rallies were organised to press for the passing of Women's reservation bill in the monsoon session of Parliament. In every subdivision of the state including Agartala, rallies were held. Everywhere impressive number of women attended the meetings. At Sonamura, CPI(M) state secretary Bijan Dhar addressed a huge gathering and lambasted BJP government for its failure to pass the bill in the parliament.
Telangana
As per the Central Committee call, CPI(M) Telangana state committee organised dharnas and rallies in 27 district head quarters and 84 mandal centers demanding the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in this monsoon session of parliament. Total 6,346 participated in the state wherein 1/3rd were men. Including the state secretariat, all the committees from state to mandal levels were involved in this activity. Pamphlets on this were distributed well before.
