The Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had targeted Congress and opposition parties with this bill. NCP President Sharad Pawar objected to his same criticism. Sharad Pawar held a press conference today. On this occasion, he gave a detailed stand on Modi’s criticism. Sharad Pawar said that Modi’s statement is embarrassing. Apart from this, Sharad Pawar gave detailed information about when and what decisions were taken regarding women’s reservation when Congress was in power.
“The Prime Minister of the country made a statement while giving a speech yesterday. That statement is painful. The criticism made by the Prime Minister is wrong”, said Sharad Pawar. “It is wrong to say that women’s reservation could not be implemented in so many years. In the year 1996, I had the sources of Maharashtra. Maharashtra was the first state to establish a State Commission for Women. In June 1993, when I was the Chief Minister, I started a separate Department for Women and Child Development in Maharashtra for the first time”, said Sharad Pawar.
“The constitution was amended in 1993. At that time, it was decided to give one-third reservation to women in local self-government elections across the country. So reservation for women came into effect. On June 22, 1994, Maharashtra announced the first women’s policy. Through this policy, reservation was made for women in government and semi-government departments in Maharashtra. After that 33 percent reservation was decided in local bodies. Maharashtra took such a decision for the first time”, said Sharad Pawar.
“When I was the defense minister of the country, I decided to give 11 per cent reservation in all the three forces. It was said in the meeting that women should be included in all the three forces when I was the Defense Minister. Then the chiefs of all the three forces protested. There was opposition in all the three meetings. But I finally said that I have the responsibility of the Defense Department. That’s why we decided to give 11 percent reservation for women”, recalled Sharad Pawar
“This decision was taken only when the Congress was in power. No one should have informed the Prime Minister about this, so he must have made such an exclamation”, said Sharad Pawar. “The Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed unanimously. There was a demand that OBC women should be given a chance along with SC, ST. But it didn’t happen”, said Sharad Pawar.