Vasundhara Raje, Sushma call for 33 percent women reservation

Tarn Taran, June 14 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today strongly advocated 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies.

Speaking at a conference organised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandik Committee (SGPC) on the occasion of the fourth centenary of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev here, Ms Swaraj said that her party was for providing 33 per cent reservation for women. '' It is unfortunate that the government is not giving due thought to this issue,'' she said.

Echoing similar views, Ms Raje said that women politicans were in no way inferior to their male counterparts. The BJP would strive to fulfill this demand, she added.

Shiromani SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur claimed that the SGPC was the first to live upto the aspiration of the women. The SGPC has already reserved 33 per cent seats for women in the general house of the SGPC, she added.

Speakers at the conference laid stress on the rampart problem of female foeticide particular in Punjab and called upon the government to take stern steps to check this menace. The conference also took serious note of violence againt women.

The Conference passed a resolution for checking foeticide and drug abuse. Speakers also pointed out that the Sikh Gurus had given equal status to both men and women.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Prakash Singh Badal and SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar also attended the conference.

UNI XC HS MSJ GC2033