Opposition dubs women's reservation bill as 'gimmick aimed at making noise'

As they pledged to support the women's quota bill, the Opposition on Tuesday called it "nothing but EVM — EVent Management" and a "gimmick aimed at making some noise" by the Narendra Modi government while claiming that it is unlikely to be in place before 2034 Lok Sabha elections.

Parties like Congress, Trinamool Congress, RJD and others highlighted that the Census and delimitation cannot be done before 2024 elections and it is unlikely to be even ready for implementation during 2029 polls.

Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said, "in a season of election jumlas, this one is the biggest of them all. A huge betrayal of the hopes of crores of Indian women and girls."

He said the Modi government has not yet conducted the 2021 decadal Census making India the only country in G20 that has failed to carry out the Census. "Now it says that the reservation for women will come into effect only following the first decadal Census conducted after the Women’s Reservation Bill has become an Act. When will this Census take place?...Will the Census and delimitation be done before the 2024 elections?"

"Basically the Bill gets the headlines today with a very vague promise of its implementation date. This is nothing but EVM — EVent Management," he said.

Calling it a  "a gimmick, aimed just at making some noise", RJD's top leader Rabri Devi said the Bill should have provided separate quotas for those belonging to SCs, STs and OBCs. She said "quota within quota" was essential for the weaker sections of society "since it is only their first generation of women which is becoming educated and aware".

BSP chief Mayawati said her party would support any bill providing for women's quota irrespective of whether it provides a quota within quota for SC, ST and OBCs. "We believe that after discussion the women reservation bill will be passed this time which had been pending since long," she said.

JD(U) sought to take credit for the bill saying it was inspired by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. JD(U) national general secretary Rajib said, "the bill proves that Bihar shows the way. Bihar, in 2006, became the first state in the country where women were given 50 per cent reservations in local bodies and panchayats. Nitish Kumar took the bold step within months of taking over as Chief Minister in November 2005."

Delhi Minister and senior AAP leader Atishi described the Bill as 'Mahila Bewakoof Banao' (Befool Women) bill. "A closer reading of the provisions of the bill shows that it is 'Mahila Bewakoof Banao' bill. Why have the provisions of delimitation and census been included? This means that women reservation won't be implemented ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," she said.

"We demand that the provisions of delimitation and census be done away with and the women's reservation be implemented for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," she said.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the move saying, ""Having navigated the rough terrain of a predominantly male political landscape myself, I am happy to see that finally the Women Reservation bill will become a reality. Despite constituting half of the population, we are grossly underrepresented. It's a great step."