BJP gives 33pc representation to women in orgn

New Delhi, Jan 28 (UNI) The BJP today took a lead over other political parties and amended its constitution to give 33 per cent representation to women in all organisational bodies right from the grassroot level to the Central Election Committee.

Soon after the inaugural address by BJP President Rajnath Singh at the two-day National Council meeting at the historic Ramlila Grounds, the party unanimously adopted the amendments to its constitution moved by the party chief himself without any discussion.

BJP's Prime Ministerial nominee L K Advani and senior leader Sushma Swaraj proposed that Mr Singh move the resolution to send the right message to the people of the country about the seriousness with which the party wanted to empower women at the party level.

Moving the amendments, Mr Singh observed that the social structure of the country was fast changing to acquire a new look and the real development of the society will not be possible without the appropriate involvement of the women.

"Be it society or the country, dharma or morality, they all originated from Shakti (power), he remarked.

He said party's decision to provide reservation to women will prove to be an epoch making not only for the BJP but for the entire nation and its impact will be felt in the society in the years to come.

The amendments will come into effect immediately without displacing the elected men at various levels in the state as well as national level by enhancing the number of posts to achieve the goal.

Ms Swaraj, who had authored the women reservation report at Bhopal Executive, told the gathering that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had acknowledged that women had contributed enormously to his recent victory in the state where the party had received four per cent extra votes from women voters.

Mr Singh, exhorting the cadre to be prepared for the elections in eight states this year and possibly an early Lok Sabha election, continued his tirade against the UPA government, which, he said, had failed at all fronts with its ''anti-people, anti-farmer and anti-labour'' policies.

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