The Congress on Wednesday sought to give credit to president Sonia Gandhi for the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
"We thank the media for acknowledging the personal stamp of Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the passage of the Bill," party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters in New Delhi. The party also expressed its gratitude to the opposition parties which helped in getting the Bill passed. Tewari said the bill was historic and in line with the party's commitment to the cause of women.
He said the commitment of the Congress to the cause of women has been historic and consistent and referred to acts like the Hindu Succession Act, Dowry Prohibition Act, Maternity Benefit Act, Equal Opportunities Act, reservation of 33 per cent for women in local bodies and then raising it to 50 per cent and now the Women's Reservation Bill. Asked when the Bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha, Tewari said it depended on the government and the legislative calendar.
To a query on the demand of the Bharatoya Janata Party, that the suspension of the seven members of Rajya Sabha should be revoked, the spokesman said even though the motion for suspension was moved by the government, the decision was taken by Chairman Hamid Ansari and it was up to him to take a decision.
"But the bigger question is how correct it is to prevent a democratic process. It was justified to take action against them," Tewari claimed.
He said violence and anarchy could not be allowed in a democratic institution and a handful of people had tried to subvert the majority. "It (suspension) was well deserved," he said.
Replying to a question on whether the party was confident about the numbers in the Lok Sabha given the Trinamool Congress' stand on the issue, he said, "There is a bigger issue of women's empowerment and we hope the Trinamool Congress will reconsider their decision and participate in the historic process".
