BRS MLC Kavitha vows to fight on for women’s reservation, begins day-long fast at Jantar Mantar

NEW DELHI: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC and Bharat Jagruti founder Kavitha Kalvakuntla on Friday began a day-long hunger strike in New Delhi to press for the passage of the bill envisaging 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies. Attended by a large number of women from Telangana, the event also saw the participation of representatives from 18 political parties who expressed their solidarity with Kavitha’s initiative for women’s reservation.

The day-long dharna and hunger strike began at Jantar Mantar in the national capital with veteran Communist leader and CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury garlanding Kavitha. Earlier, Kavitha paid tributes to several iconic Indian women leaders by garlanding their statues.

Speaking on the occasion, Kavitha profusely thanked all the political parties who had extended their support for her agitation and termed her effort as a historic necessity to achieve something that has been hanging fire for the last 27 years.

As a result of protracted efforts by women leaders like Brinda Karat, Sonia Gandhi, Sushma Swaraj, Jayanthi Natarajan and many more, the women’s reservation bill could be drafted, she said.

Kavitha said that it was the Deve Gowda regime that came up with the 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies. But, unfortunately, it could not be translated into a reality as an act due to various reasons. Vowing that she would not relent in her struggle for women’s reservation until it was passed in Parliament, she appealed to the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government to initiate the process in the current session of Parliament as it enjoyed absolute majority.

Addressing the gathering after Kavitha, Sitaram Yechury said that he came here to assure Kavitha of the whole-hearted support of the Left parties to her agitation and asserted that they would stand with her until the 33 percent reservation bill was passed in the Parliament.

“Unless equal opportunity is given to women in social, fiscal and political spheres, no country can progress. The women’s reservation bill, which has been pending for long, was brought about after a prolonged struggle. It is important to bring the bill in the current session of Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself extended his support for the women’s reservation bill when he first came to power. Bowing and placing his head on the floor of the Parliament, he promised to get the bill passed. But, even after nine years, his government hasn’t made any attempts in this direction,” he said.

He further said: “Today, women have a representation of 14 percent and 25 percent in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively. We want to assure you, Kavitha ji, until the bill is passed, we will continue to fight with you for the cause,” Sitaram Yechury asserted.

The day-long protest, which began a little after 10 am, will go on until 4 pm.