The Uttarakhand government is set to convene a special assembly session on Tuesday, during which it is likely to bring a censure motion against opposition parties for opposing and blocking the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament. The session, to be held in Dehradun, is expected to witness heated exchanges between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress.
Political Reactions and Protests
The Congress has announced a gherao of the assembly, alleging that the ruling party is using the session for political purposes. Both parties have already held protests in the city, trading accusations over the issue. While the BJP has termed the Congress 'anti-women', the opposition has accused the government of politicising the women's quota bill.
Congress state vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana said the BJP government had 'failed to disclose the identity of the VIP' in the Rishikesh resort murder case. 'Crimes against women have risen during the BJP rule. We will protest to express our annoyance against the government's attitude on the issue,' he said.
Background of the Women's Reservation Bill
The Women's Reservation Bill, which seeks to reserve one-third of seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women, has been a contentious issue. The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha but faced hurdles in the Rajya Sabha due to opposition from several parties. The Uttarakhand government's censure motion aims to highlight the role of opposition parties in stalling the bill.
The special session is expected to be marked by intense debate, with both sides digging in their heels. The BJP has accused the Congress of blocking women's empowerment, while the Congress has countered by pointing to the government's alleged failures on women's safety.
