KOLKATA, May 10 :
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said here today that BJP was the first to introduce political reservation for women even though the demand for this had been pending for several decades and discussion on the subject was held from time to time.
Addressing a mammoth public rally in support of the BJP candidate from Hooghly Lok Sabha constituency Locket Chatterjee, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, it is the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi alone, which has the sincerity and conviction about empowerment of women in every field including in politics. He said, some day the historians and analysts may like to evaluate as to why it had to take seven decades before Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought in “Nari Shakti Vandhan Adhiniyam” legislation in Parliament for 1/3rd reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
There is evidence to state, said Dr. Jitendra Singh that whenever the issue of political reservation for women came up, each time it was vehemently opposed by all the non-BJP Parties particularly those which were being run through dynasties. He said, whether it was the Congress Party or the TMC or the Samajwadi Party or Lalu Prasad’s RJD, they always created hurdles because they knew any such move would come in the way of their designs of promoting the members of their family including the female members of their family. As a result, he said, while the common woman of this country was deprived by these Parties of the opportunity to become MP or MLA, they had no hesitation in pushing forward the women members of the ruling dynasties to become MPs and MLAs, and thus carry forward the dynasty rule from generation to generation.
In West Bengal also, said Dr. Jitendra Singh, even though the Chief Minister happens to be a woman, the TMC government run by her had prevented the full implementation of the series of women-centric schemes rolled out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For example, he said, while in States like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, there is 100% saturation of women-oriented initiatives like providing Gas Cylinders under Ujjawala scheme, toilets for women and pucca houses under PMAY, the same is not seen in West Bengal.
For the first time after independence, said Dr. Jitendra Singh, Prime Minister Modi has not only promoted women in every sphere but has also given them them equal platform and equal opportunities, whether it is recruitment in the Armed forces or engagement as Fighter Pilots or admission to Sainik Schools, etc. The contrast is visible when we see other States of the country witnessing a sudden upsurge in women force in every spheres of activity, while West Bengal still lacks behind by several years.
For youth also, Dr Jitendra Singh alleged, TMC govt has discouraged new industry in W. Bengal, thus depriving new employment opportunities.
