New Delhi, September 20, 2023: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, addressing the Lok Sabha, expressed his support for the Women's Reservation Bill while highlighting the importance of including the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the bill. He began his speech by remarking on the honor of speaking in the new Lok Sabha building, emphasizing the significance of the occasion.
Gandhi reminisced about a recent discussion in the Lok Sabha that touched upon the historical transfer of power from the British colonial rulers to the people of India. He recalled how India's freedom fighters had asserted that the power was being transferred to the people of India, which marked a revolutionary moment. He pointed out that granting voting rights to all women in India from its inception was a historic decision, as the vote became the mechanism for transferring power.
Gandhi underscored the ongoing struggle between those who empower India and those who seek to diminish its power. He highlighted the landmark move of empowering women through Panchayati Raj, wherein they were provided reservations and the opportunity to participate in politics.
Gandhi supports Women's Reservation Bill, but says it's incomplete
The Women's Reservation Bill, he noted, is a significant step forward for the women of India, and he asserted that all members of the house agreed on its importance.
However, Gandhi noted that the bill is incomplete in his view as it lacks OBC reservation. He stressed the importance of ensuring that a large segment of India's women have access to reservations.
He expressed his concern about the requirement for a new census and delimitation to implement the bill.
"Two things seem strange to me. Firstly, the necessity of conducting a new census, and secondly, the delimitation for implementation. . This bill can be implemented today. I wonder if this is designed to push the ball forward for 7-8 years," Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi questions President Murmu's absence
Gandhi also commented on the absence of the President of India in the process of transitioning from the old Lok Sabha building to the new one.
"This is a nice building but I would have liked to see President of India in this process. Our President is a woman, she represents the tribal community, and it would have been befitting to have her visible during this transfer from old house to new," Gandhi said.
Furthermore, Gandhi criticised the government for using distractions to divert attention from important issues, such as the Adani controversy and the caste census. He urged the government to focus on the critical matters facing the country.
Only 3 OBC secretaries among 90: Gandhi
In his research for the speech, Gandhi said, he investigated the representation of the OBC community in various institutions. He highlighted the fact that out of the 90 secretaries responsible for managing the government of India, only three are from the OBC community. These secretaries control just 5% of India's budget, which he found deeply troubling.
"This is an insult and shame to OBC community. The only way to accurately determine the numbers of OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis is through a caste census," Rahul Gandhi said.
Talking about the nitty-gritties of the Women's Reservation Bill, Gandhi said, "There is no need for census and delimitation to implement this bill. Give 33% reservation to women right away."
