BJP is the first party to demand 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies

“The all-round empowerment of women is an integral and essential part of building a better and more just society. Of immense and urgent importance is women’s political empowerment through a policy of reservations. The BJP was the first party to pass a resolution, in 1994, seeking thirty-three per cent reservation of seats for women in Parliament and state legislatures. Ours is also the first—and, so far, the only—party in the country to have decided to provide thirty-three per cent reservation for women within the organisation at all levels. My colleague Sushma Swaraj, an outstanding speaker and an able parliamentarian, played a key role in persuading the party to pass the two resolutions.

Reservation for women is justified on the simple ground that women face many difficulties in participating actively in public affairs. It is twice as difficult for a woman to play a role in public life as it is for a man—even for such women who are twice as capable and competent as their male counterparts. Women’s under-representation in Parliament, state legislatures and ministries is glaring. It is all the more indefensible since women have given an excellent account of themselves after India introduced the 73^rd and 74th Constitutional amendments in 1992 guaranteeing the reservation of seats for women in panchayats and municipal bodies.

As a result of this revolutionary step, our country has over one million women members in various Panchayati Raj institutions. In addition, women are also elected in cooperative bodies and self-help groups in large numbers. Thus, India today has the proud distinction of having the largest number of women who have been elected in grassroot democratic organisations. Indeed, some of the best-run village panchayats are those that have women as sarpanch. It is therefore ironic that, even after many years of debate within and outside Parliament, there is lack of suffi cient political will and consensus to pass the law for thirty-three per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures. It would be a proud and happy day for India when this revolutionary law finally sees the light of the day.”

Fight social ills against women

“Women’s empowerment, however, has many other important dimensions. The handicap they face in education, healthcare and employment must be removed. They must be treated with respect and dignity both at home and in the public sphere. Few things outrage me more than reports of atrocities on women. Hence, my understanding of security envisages a situation in which our sisters and daughters feel safe to travel anywhere and at anytime without any fear or apprehension. The most basic criterion of safety is, of course, the right to live. Therefore, inhuman practices like female infanticide and foeticide, which draw sustenance from indefensible cultural attributes such as preference for sons, can have no place in a civilised society. These social evils, however, cannot be eradicated through laws and governmental regulations alone. We need strong and sustained societal action, supported by proper public education.”