New Delhi, Jul 29: Hundreds of women today gathered in the capital today to press for their demand for passage of the women's reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha, asking parties to overcome their "lack of political" will and give the final push to the legislation.
The women assembled under the platform of 'Alliance for 33 per cent' and were represented by leaders from various political parties barring the BJP. Social activists and media personalities like Sharmila Tagore, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi exhorted the parties to resolve their differences and form the political will to pass the Bill in the current session of Parliament.
"There are two kinds of opponents to the Bill, one who is openly opposing it and the other who are hiding behind forces opposing it. These people who do not come forward are more dangerous," Akhtar said hinting that the Congress lacked the political will to get the Bill passed.
Congress Spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said, "I assure you all that my party is totally committed to the passage of the Bill".
CPI(M) politburo members Brinda Karat said, "there is no law which a government cannot pass if it has the political will".
Karat added that the distance between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha is 10 steps and the Bill should not be "sabotaged in the name of consensus".
CPI National Secretary D Raja said, "the 33 per cent quota is a justified demand and the reservation for women in Parliament should be in fact 50 per cent".
Social activist and actor Shabana Azmi said, though the 33 per cent quota was not a magic wand which could solve all problems, but it will surely help. The Women's Reservation Bill has been passed in the Rajya Sabha and has to be passed in the Lok Sabha now to make it into a legislation.