Poll gimmick, chides Gaikhangam
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 23 2023: Although the Congress party welcomes the recent passage of the Women Reservation Bill, it was a political gimmick aimed at securing votes for BJP in the coming Parliament election, asserted Congress Working Committee (CWC) Member Gaikhangam.

Speaking to media persons at his Mantripukhri residence today, Gaikhangam said that the Congress party repeatedly tabled the women reservation Bill in the Parliament.

The women reservation Bill was a dream of late Prime Minister and Congress leader Rajiv Gandhi, Gaikhangam said.

Rajiv Gandhi strongly advocated the women reservation Bill with a strong belief that India could become a developed Nation only when all sections of the people were developed.

If there should be any amendment to the Constitution, the same move should be backed by two-third of the total Members of the Parliament.

Congress party could not pass the women reservation Bill when it was in power because it did not enjoy two-third majority in the Parliament.

BJP and its allies opposed tooth and nail when Congress party tried repeatedly to pass the Bill, said the CWC Member.

Unlike BJP, Congress party extended full support when the women reservation Bill was tabled in the Parliament recently.

Given the fact that BJP has been enjoying absolute majority in the Parliament for the last nine years, the Bill could have been passed much earlier, Gaikhangam said.

The recent tabling and passage of the women reservation Bill seemed to be guided by an ulterior motive.

It looked like BJP tabled the Bill with the sole motive to gain electoral benefits, not to uplift or empower women, he remarked.

Even though the decadal census exercise was due in 2021, the BJP Government kept the same exercise at bay.

Now the BJP is saying that the women reservation Bill even though it has been passed would not come into effect as the due census exercise has not been carried out.

What the BJP is saying has many implications, Gaikhangam said.

It appeared that the BJP's move to table and pass the Bill was driven by its fear of defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, he said.

The CWC which is the highest decision making body of Congress held a session on September 16 and 17 at Hyderabad under its new president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Taking serious note of the Manipur crisis, the CWC meeting adopted a resolution that the Government of India should do everything to bring an end to the protracted violence, he added.

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