48 Hours Before Special Session of Parliament, RSS Brings Spotlight Back On Women's Reservation Bill

Women’s empowerment was one of the key talking points at the RSS Akhil Bharatiya Samanyay Baithak (RSS All Indian Coordination Meeting) that ended in Pune on Saturday, sparking speculation that the Narendra Modi government could bring in the Women’s Reservation Bill in the special session of Parliament starting Monday.

RSS REVIVES WOMEN’S BILL BUZZ

“Women should play a leading role. Therefore, Sangh inspired organisations will make efforts to increase participation of women in all fields. This topic was discussed in the All India Coordination Meeting of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,” said RSS Sah Sarkaryavah Dr Manmohan Vaidya at the conclusion of the three-day meeting that was attended by the top leaders of the Sangh, including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

The meeting was also attended by BJP president JP Nadda on the first day.

Vaidya added that, in Indian thought, family is the smallest unit. “The role of women is most prominent in the family. Therefore, women should play a leading role in every section of the society.”

The RSS commended women’s increasing participation in multiple sectors. News18 has learnt that the topic was prominently discussed under the Centenary Scheme of the Sangh. The meeting concluded with Bhagwat’s speech and was attended by 246 delegates from 36 organisations.

This renewed thrust on women set political mills abuzz around a 1,000 kilometres from Pune where the meeting was held, all the way down to the power corridors of New Delhi that the Modi government could bring in the Women’s Reservation Bill for fresh discussions.

Though the Centre belatedly announced the agenda of the surprise special session of Parliament scheduled September 18-22, key members of the INDIA bloc criticised the phrase ‘not-exhaustive’ in the agenda. The agenda list announced on Wednesday night mentioned that it should not be considered exhaustive.

WHAT THE BILL SAYS

The Bill seeks 33% of the seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies to be reserved for women. It was first introduced in the lower house of Parliament back in 1996 as the 81st Amendment Bill by the Deve Gowda-led United Front government. However, it failed to get the approval of the House in the coalition era. While it was passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010 during the UPA rule, the Bill lapsed in the lower house.

The Congress, TMC and the BRS have backed the women’s quota, but many parties from the Hindi heartland have been animatedly against it.

The BJP government at the Centre is mindful of the strength of the women voters. The party in Madhya Pradesh has launched the Ladli Behna Yojna and at the national-level, the government slashed LPG cylinder prices by Rs 200 and added 75 lakh beneficiaries to the Ujjwala Yojana.

Amid the political debate, BJP’s ideological mentor, the RSS, discussing ‘women’s role in society’ 48 hours before the special session of Parliament has given the bill a spot in the limelight.