The BRS MLC said instead of targeting her for the limited tickets given to women by the BRS, her detractors should join her efforts.
Published Aug 23, 2023 | 4:35 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 23, 2023 | 4:36 PM
BRS MLC K Kavitha. (Supplied)
Taking a serious exception to the broadside against her by the BJP and the Congress, BRS MLC K Kavitha on Wednesday, 23 August, said that instead of targeting her for the limited representation given to women in the allotment of BRS tickets, let her detractors join the effort to force the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament.
The BRS leader told reporters in Hyderabad that fighting for the reservation for women in the legislature was not her personal agenda and that everyone had to chip in instead of attacking her.
“Both the Congress and the BJP ridiculed me, saying that the BRS had not given enough representation to women in the allotment of tickets. Instead of being so narrow-minded for political benefit, let them also come forward to ensure reservations to women in legislative bodies,” she said.
She said that she would organise yet another deeksha in December in Delhi on the need for the passage of the Women Reservation bill in Parliament.
“I will invite Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Smriti Irani to the Deeksha. The event would clear the air as to who is for the reservation for women and who is against,” he said.
She said the architect of the Indian constitution, BR Ambedkar, also fought for reservations for women.
At present, women’s representation in Parliament is just 12 percent. In the first Lok Sabha, it was 8 percent, which means the growth was very nominal.
In the current Assembly of Manipur, there are only two MLAs.
“Do women have to be content with reservations in local bodies?” she asked, adding that in the BJP-ruled UP, there is no reservation for women in local bodies while in Haryana, attempts were on to deny reservation to women by linking it to the requirement that women should have minimum educational qualification of SSC for availing the quota.
She said that after the reservation for local bodies, there are now 14 lakh women across the country who are politically empowered. If there are reservations for women in legislative bodies, it would lead to their further empowerment.
Training her guns at Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, the BRS MLC said that his attack on her for inadequate representation in the allotment of BRS tickets was unwarranted.
In 2010, the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha. But it has not yet been passed in the Lok Sabha. “Why was neither the Congress nor later on the BJP not bothered about making the legislation?” she asked.
Asked about the comment of a BRS MP that regardless of who one votes for on EVMs, it would go in favour of the BJP, she said it was a serious issue that should be looked into.
The Election Commission should immediately look into this. “We also will make a representation on the possibility of tampering with the EVMs,” she said.
Kavitha sought to take the wind out of the sails of the Opposition parties for their criticism that KCR, not sure of winning from Gajwel, was contesting from Kamareddy as well.
“One would laugh at such ridiculous inferences. Even you are smiling while asking me this question. KCR had a sound strategy in mind when he said he would contest from both places. The Opposition parties unable to read KCR’s might are getting into knots,” she said.
Asked what action would be taken against Malkajgiri BRS MLA Mynampalli Hanumantha Rao for his outburst against Finance Minister T Harish Rao, Kavitha said that when one is in a party one has to follow discipline.
The party would take an appropriate decision, she said, pointing out that those who did not get tickets should not feel let down since KCR would reward them in due course, as he had already done over time.
