Jharkhand Coalition Welcomes Defeat of Women's Reservation Amendment Bill
The ruling coalition in Jharkhand, led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), on Friday expressed satisfaction over the defeat of the constitutional amendment bill aimed at implementing reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies. The coalition asserted that this outcome has fully exposed the Narendra Modi-led Union government's political motives.
JMM's Stance on Women's Reservation
JMM, which heads the alliance government, reiterated its support for increasing women's reservation but opposed the current amendment. JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya stated, "We are in favour of increasing women's reservation, but we are opposed to the current amendment, which was brought in haste for political mileage by the Modi government." He highlighted that the bill passed in 2023 received wholehearted support from all opposition parties, but the Modi government failed to implement it and suddenly introduced a new amendment.
Bhattacharya emphasized that without a caste census and delimitation, the coalition cannot support the formulae presented by the Centre. "It is because the bill had nothing to do with women's reservation or their concerns, but was solely aimed at political jumla," he added, accusing the government of using the issue for electoral gains.
Voices from the Ground
In Giridih, JMM's Gandey MLA Kalpana Soren reinforced the party's long-standing advocacy for women's participation in politics. She said, "Whether it is the Lok Sabha or state assemblies, women must get their due rights. But I want to ask the central government: Why impose delimitation on old data? Why this haste?" Her comments reflect concerns over the procedural aspects of the amendment.
State Congress general secretary Alok Kumar Dubey alleged that the BJP's intention was to exploit the issue for electoral benefits. He noted, "Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi has clearly stated that if the government implements the 2023 bill exactly as it is, the entire opposition will support it." This underscores the opposition's willingness to back the original legislation.
BJP's Counterattack
The BJP questioned JMM's selective pro-feminism stance. BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said, "JMM and Congress are indulging in politics of misinformation and deceit on the issue of women's reservation, while its own track record reflects indifference to women's rights." He recalled that in 2010, when the women's reservation bill was introduced in Parliament, MPs from the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) tore copies inside the House.
Shahdeo pointed out that JMM was part of the same political ecosystem at that time but failed to oppose such conduct, suggesting hypocrisy in their current position. This historical reference aims to challenge the coalition's credibility on women's rights issues.
Broader Implications
The defeat of the amendment bill has sparked a heated political debate in Jharkhand and beyond, with key points including:
- The need for a caste census and proper delimitation before implementing women's reservation.
- Allegations of political opportunism by the Modi government in bringing the amendment hastily.
- Criticism of JMM and Congress for their past actions on women's rights, as highlighted by the BJP.
This development highlights the ongoing tensions between the ruling coalition and the central government, with women's reservation remaining a contentious issue in Indian politics. The focus now shifts to whether the 2023 bill will be implemented or if further amendments will be proposed.
