01-29-2008, 12:19 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>BJP shows the way</b>
The Pioneer Edit Desk
Women's quota a big leap forward
The BJP has taken a big leap forward by deciding to reserve 33 per cent posts for women in the party organisation -- from local committees to the National Council and National Executive. This radical shift towards gender equality and political empowerment of women is a first of its kind. While 'secular' and 'progressive' political parties, which tirelessly berate this Right-wing party for its nationalist politics, are vocal in paying lip service to women's empowerment, it is the BJP which has shown the way by taking firm steps in the right direction. Neither the Congress nor the CPI(M), whose leaders are in the forefront of clamorous though bogus demands for gender equity and empowerment, has gone beyond periodically seeking women's quota in Parliament. As for the 'natural' allies of the Congress and the Left -- ranging from Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD to Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, not to mention Mr Chandrababu Naidu's TDP -- they are primarily dedicated to the empowerment of the families of those who lead them; with their family-specific agenda, these parties cannot be expected to further the cause of women's empowerment. In sharp comparison to the whole lot, Marxists included, the BJP has demonstrated that it is a forward-looking political organisation which is alert to the changing aspirations of the masses. What is equally remarkable is the elaborate and democratic process through which the party has evolved its policy of mandatorily including women in the organisational hierarchy. The idea was floated by party president Rajnath Singh last year and a committee, headed by Ms Sushma Swaraj, was set up to look into its implementation. The committee, after wide-ranging discussions, submitted its report to the BJP National Executive when it met in December 2007, where it was unanimously accepted. To ensure compliance with the new policy, the party has now amended its constitution and the amendments have been ratified by the National Council. Inner-party democracy, we must remember, reflects a party's commitment to democracy in our country. By this measure, the BJP stands head and shoulders above its adversaries.
Carping critics will be prompt in pointing out that setting aside 33 per cent posts for women in the party organisation is not quite the same as reserving seats for women in Parliament. True, but pending the introduction of women's quota in Parliament, this is the best thing that could have happened. Indeed, by pro-actively involving women in the party organisation, the BJP will be ensuring their empowerment at the grassroots, which, in a sense, will politically empower a much larger number of women. Nor should we ignore the fact that the BJP, unlike many of its adversaries, has been steadfast in demanding quota for women in legislatures; former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee introduced a private member's Bill seeking 33 per cent parliamentary reservation for women as early as in 1996, fetching instant howls of protest. The NDA regime would have enacted this law if the then Opposition, primarily the Congress, which now occupies the Treasury Benches, had supported the Government. Hopefully, others will now emulate the BJP and introduce a similar quota for women in their respective organisations, instead of picking holes in the BJP's policy.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Pioneer Edit Desk
Women's quota a big leap forward
The BJP has taken a big leap forward by deciding to reserve 33 per cent posts for women in the party organisation -- from local committees to the National Council and National Executive. This radical shift towards gender equality and political empowerment of women is a first of its kind. While 'secular' and 'progressive' political parties, which tirelessly berate this Right-wing party for its nationalist politics, are vocal in paying lip service to women's empowerment, it is the BJP which has shown the way by taking firm steps in the right direction. Neither the Congress nor the CPI(M), whose leaders are in the forefront of clamorous though bogus demands for gender equity and empowerment, has gone beyond periodically seeking women's quota in Parliament. As for the 'natural' allies of the Congress and the Left -- ranging from Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD to Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, not to mention Mr Chandrababu Naidu's TDP -- they are primarily dedicated to the empowerment of the families of those who lead them; with their family-specific agenda, these parties cannot be expected to further the cause of women's empowerment. In sharp comparison to the whole lot, Marxists included, the BJP has demonstrated that it is a forward-looking political organisation which is alert to the changing aspirations of the masses. What is equally remarkable is the elaborate and democratic process through which the party has evolved its policy of mandatorily including women in the organisational hierarchy. The idea was floated by party president Rajnath Singh last year and a committee, headed by Ms Sushma Swaraj, was set up to look into its implementation. The committee, after wide-ranging discussions, submitted its report to the BJP National Executive when it met in December 2007, where it was unanimously accepted. To ensure compliance with the new policy, the party has now amended its constitution and the amendments have been ratified by the National Council. Inner-party democracy, we must remember, reflects a party's commitment to democracy in our country. By this measure, the BJP stands head and shoulders above its adversaries.
Carping critics will be prompt in pointing out that setting aside 33 per cent posts for women in the party organisation is not quite the same as reserving seats for women in Parliament. True, but pending the introduction of women's quota in Parliament, this is the best thing that could have happened. Indeed, by pro-actively involving women in the party organisation, the BJP will be ensuring their empowerment at the grassroots, which, in a sense, will politically empower a much larger number of women. Nor should we ignore the fact that the BJP, unlike many of its adversaries, has been steadfast in demanding quota for women in legislatures; former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee introduced a private member's Bill seeking 33 per cent parliamentary reservation for women as early as in 1996, fetching instant howls of protest. The NDA regime would have enacted this law if the then Opposition, primarily the Congress, which now occupies the Treasury Benches, had supported the Government. Hopefully, others will now emulate the BJP and introduce a similar quota for women in their respective organisations, instead of picking holes in the BJP's policy.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->