3 weeks ago
Akali Dal demands immediate passage of women's quota, delimitation bills
In India, there is a plan to make sure more women can be part of the government.
A political party called the Shiromani Akali Dal wants this plan to happen right away.
The leader of the party, Sukhbir Singh Badal, spoke about it after a meeting in the city of Chandigarh.
The plan, called the Women's Reservation Bill, would set aside 33 percent of the seats in law-making bodies for women.
The party also wants the country's voting areas, called constituencies, to be drawn fairly so every state is treated equally.
Badal said his party supports the government's idea to increase the number of seats for all states by 50 percent.
He pointed out that a Sikh religious body called the SGPC already sets aside seats for women and that others should follow that example.
The Indian government is trying again to pass this law during its Monsoon session after the same bill was voted down last time.
A day before the meeting, Badal visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which made some people think the two parties might work together again.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), at a meeting of senior leaders chaired by president Sukhbir Singh Badal in Chandigarh on Saturday, demanded the immediate implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill.
SAD also demanded a fair and equitable Delimitation ensuring equal representation to all states, supporting the government's proposal for a uniform 50 per cent increase in seats for all states.
Badal said the party draws inspiration from the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, who championed the dignity, equality and equal rights of women, and cited the SGPC's women's reservation as an example.
The government is making a fresh attempt to pass a Constitution Amendment Bill for 33 per cent women's reservation in legislatures in 2029 and to increase Lok Sabha seats to 816 in the ongoing Monsoon session, after the bill was defeated last session.
The announcement came a day after Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament House complex, fuelling speculation about SAD rejoining the NDA for assembly elections due early next year.
- Who
- Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and senior party leaders, who met a day after Badal's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- What
- Demanded the immediate passage and implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill and a fair, equitable Delimitation with a uniform 50 per cent increase in seats for all states.
- Where
- Chandigarh, where SAD held its senior leaders' meeting; Badal had met Modi at the Parliament House complex.
- When
- Saturday, August 8, during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, a day after Badal met PM Modi on Friday.
- Why
- To ensure equal representation for women in legislatures and for all states, drawing on Sikh teachings; SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said the seat increase will benefit Punjab.
Key facts
- Party
- Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)
- Party president
- Sukhbir Singh Badal
- Core demand
- Immediate passage of Women's Reservation Bill and delimitation bill
- Proposed women's reservation
- 33 per cent of seats in legislatures, targeted for 2029
- Stance on delimitation
- Uniform 50 per cent increase in seats for all states
- Lok Sabha seat target
- 816 constituencies after redrawing
- Meeting location and date
- Chandigarh, Saturday, August 8
- Preceding event
- Badal met PM Narendra Modi on Friday at the Parliament House complex
- SGPC precedent
- Women's reservation already provided in its House
Quotes
Sukhbir Singh Badal
President of the Shiromani Akali Dal
“The Shiromani Akali Dal supported the proposal which was put up by the Government of India on the floor of the House for a uniform increase of 50 per cent of seats of all states.”
livemint.com
theprint.in
““The Shiromani Akali Dal draws inspiration from the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, who championed the dignity, equality and equal rights of women””
livemint.com
theprint.in
Sources
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