“It was Rajiv Gandhi’s dream…,”: Sonia Gandhi on Women’s Reservation Bill

New Delhi [India]: Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday sought immediate implementation Women’s Reservation Bill, saying it is an emotional moment for her and the decision to empower women through panchayati raj institutions was taken by her husband and former Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi.

“The Bill was former PM Rajiv Gandhiji’s dream,” Sonia Gandhi told reporters near the Parliament House.

Sonia Gandhi, who initiated the debate on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniam in the Lok Sabha, said the dream of her husband has remain unfulfilled and will be realised with the passage of the bill which was introduced on Tuesday.

The Congress leaders said that it is a result of the Panchayati Raj Act that the country has 15 lakh women leaders in panchayats and other local bodies.

“The constitution amendment which ensured place for women in local bodies for the first time was brought by my husband Rajiv

Gandhi. It was defeated by seven votes in Rajya Sabha and was later implemented by Congress government led by PV Narasimha Rao,” she said.

“Rajiv Gandhi’s dream was only half fulfilled. It will be fulfilled with the passage of this bill,” she added.

The Congress leader also demanded caste census to ensure quota for women belonging to Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the women’s reservation bill.

“I would like to ask a question. Indian women have been waiting for their political responsibilities for the last 13 years. Now they are being asked to wait for a few more years. How many years? Is this behaviour with Indian women appropriate? Indian National Congress demands that the Bill be implemented immediately,” she said.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved the bill for passage in the House.

The bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the first sitting of the House in the new Parliament building. The five-day Special Session of Parliament began on Monday.