BJP to gherao Parliament for women reservation

Guwahati, Aug 26 (UNI) Stepping up its offensive against the ruling UPA government, the BJP today raked up the issue of women's reservation and accused the UPA of ignoring the fairer sex.

'The UPA is talking about women empowerment. But it has been three years that the UPA came to power and it is still to table a draft bill on women's reservation,' said Bharatiya Janata Mahila Morcha national president Kiran Maheswari.

Mrs Maheswari was here to attend the executive meeting of the Assam unit of the BJP's women's wing. She has also lined up visits to four other northeastern states.

Coming down heavily on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Mrs Maheswari said despite the fact that the UPA was headed by a woman, it had done little for women empowerment.

She alleged that the NDA had tabled the women's reservation bill three times in Parliament, but every time the Congress threw a spanner.

''Women constitue 50 per cent of the country's population. But it is unfortunate that they are still to get the privileges. They have been constantly ignored by the ruling UPA,'' she said.

Mrs Maheswari said the BJP was ready to back the 33 per cent women's reservation bill as and when the UPA tables it.

The BJP leader stated that the saffron brigade would be staging a Parliament gherao programme on December 4 next in support of the bill. Around one lakh women from across the country is expected to participate in the programme, she added.

UNI