Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Congress and the LoP in the Rajya Sabha, stated on Wednesday that the Opposition will fully cooperate with the discussion of the Women’s Reservation Bill while questioning the “intentions” of the Centre in introducing it. Additionally, he claimed that the Central Government is making the Bill known in preparation for elections. He also insisted that the Bill be implemented and added that the flaws and shortcomings should be fixed.
“In 2010, we had passed the Bill in Rajya Sabha. But it failed to be passed by the Lok Sabha. That is why, this is not a new Bill. Had they taken that Bill forward, it would have been done quickly by this day. I feel that they are publicising this in view of elections but actually unless the delimitation or census takes place. You can feel how long it is going to take,” Kharge said.
“They could have continued with the earlier one but their intentions are something else. But we will insist that women’s reservation has to be brought and we will fully cooperate. But the loopholes and drawbacks should be rectified,” he added.
Meanwhile, criticizing the Centre over not including the women belonging to the backward and Scheduled Caste (SC) community, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Wednesday urged the Centre to pass the 2010 Bill in Lok Sabha and start the reservation.