EASY PART OVER, NOW FOR THE HARD TASKS

It's clear why the BJP did not pass the women's reservation bill in 2014, and it's equally clear why they did in 2023. The bigger effort now is to ensure an equable delimitation

- KAPIL SIBAL

IT was politics all the way. First, the presidency of the G20 which by rotation was to be hosted by India in 2022 was shifted to 2023. Thereafter, the promulgation of a special session of parliament, without an agenda, followed by speculation, with the media going abuzz with possible 'breaking news' scenarios.

Then, the element of secrecy and surprise which is typical brand Modi', allowing for mindless combative debates on channels competing for television rating points.

We were told that the government will introduce the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023. This bill was destined to pass. No political party, no member of parliament could dare to oppose the bill. All this in the new seven-star, soulless parliament structure. A shaky Modi did this for 2024.

If this government truly wanted to politically empower women in India, this bill could have been passed much earlier. The BJP obtained an absolute majority in 2014.

With the open support of the Congress, the bill would have sailed through. By 2019, it would have been implemented. The reason why the BJP did not move the bill in 2014 is obvious. The reason why they have moved it now in 2023 is equally obvious.

From Sub-Saharan Africa to the Caribbean, and from Europe to Australia and South America, women are adequately represented in their respective parliaments.

Take the highest legislative bodies of BRICS countries: women's representation in South Africa is over a third, in China exactly a fourth, in Brazil almost a fifth, and in Russia 16 percent. India stands at the bottom with 15.2 percent, much less than the global average of 26.5 percent.