New Delhi, July 17 (UNI) Welcoming Congress president Rahul Gandhi's initiative to support Women Reservation Bill, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Tuesday that the BJP and Congress should come together to offer a 'new deal' to women.
'Since you have shown your deep concern for support of women reservation in Parliament and state Assemblies to deal with the challenge of their inadequate representation in these bodies, I propose that both the national parties -- the BJP and the the Congress, should come together and offer a 'new deal' to Indian women to ensure equality and adequate representation,' Mr Prasad wrote to Mr Gandhi.
Mr Prasad said as part of the 'new deal', the law prohibiting Triple Talaq and imposing penal consequence on those who violate the law, and the law prohibiting Nikah Halala should also be approved.
Mr Prasad said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has forwarded the letter written by Mr Gandhi to him as his ministry deals with Constitution amendment relating to reservation of seats for women in Parliament and state Assemblies.
The Law Minister further pointed that the bill was originally proposed by NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He further said that even when the previous UPA government re-introduced the bill, the BJP stood in support of it and had it passed in the Rajya Sabha.
'As national parties, we cannot have two set of standards in dealing with women and heir rights,' he said, adding that 'we are already too late in conferring the the right of equal representation and equality in personal laws,' he said and sought 'your party's unqualified support for passage of bills.
Mr Gandhi has written a letter to the Prime Minister seeking passage of the women’s reservation bill. He had written, “I write to you to request your support to ensure the passage of the women's reservation bill in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament.”
"Given that fact that the BJP and its allies have a majority in the Lok Sabha, all this landmark legislation requires to become a reality is your support. I am sure, it will not be withheld,” he had further said.
UNI RSA SHK 2015