Women Lead Rajya Sabha Session Amid Women’s Reservation Bill Debate

In a noteworthy turn of events, several women MPs from various political parties took charge of the Rajya Sabha proceedings during discussions on the Women’s Reservation Bill. The day saw a series of women chairpersons, emphasizing the significance of women’s participation in the legislative process.

The list of women who chaired the session included P T Usha, S Phangnon Konyak (BJP), Jaya Bachchan (SP), Saroj Pandey (BJP), Rajani Ashokrao Patil (Congress), Fauzia Khan (NCP), Dola Sen (TMC), Indu Bala Goswami (BJP), Kanimozhi (DMK), Kavita Patidar (BJP), Mahua Maji (JMM), Kalpana Saini (BJP), and Sulata Deo (BJD).

During the session, Congress Rajya Sabha member Ranjeet Ranjan raised questions about the absence of President Droupadi Murmu, a woman and the first person from the tribal community to hold the high office, at the opening of the new Parliament. Ranjan also challenged the delay in introducing the Women’s Reservation Bill, as it had been promised in the BJP’s election manifesto in 2014.

Ranjan criticized the language used by some in reference to the bill, emphasizing that women’s rights are constitutional and not mere acts of charity. She further advocated for reservations for OBCs similar to those for SCs and STs.

TMC’s Dola Sen questioned the timing of the bill’s tabling, suggesting that it had been introduced abruptly ahead of the 2024 elections. She questioned the motivations behind this decision and expressed concerns about the bill’s implementation timeline, comparing it to other controversial bills like the CAA and NRC.

The presence of women leaders at the helm of the Rajya Sabha and the passionate debate surrounding the Women’s Reservation Bill underscored the growing importance of gender equality and women’s rights in India’s political landscape.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Indian Express