Women’s quota Bill: The debate continues

Adding a strident note to the Women’s Reservation Bill debate, a large number of Muslim leaders including women on Saturday exhorted Muslims, Dalits and minorities to “take to the streets” to stop passage of the Bill in its existing format, reports Satyen Mohapatra.

Adding a strident note to the Women’s Reservation Bill debate, a large number of Muslim leaders — including women — on Saturday exhorted Muslims, Dalits and minorities to “take to the streets” to stop passage of the Bill in its existing format.

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“There is no meaning of 33 per cent reservation for women. We must get 50 per cent reservation,” said Archana Singh, secretary general of the BR Ambedkar Sewa Dal.

Prof Hasina Hashia of Jamia Millia Islamia said, “The Bill in its present form... will only benefit those women belonging to the upper caste and upper economic class. We have to strive for reservation for Muslims whose status is even lower than SC and ST today.”

Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid Mufti Mohammed Mukarram, said: “We must have quota within quota in the Women’s Reservation Bill.”

The convention was organised by All-India Milli Council.