Here’s why Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM MP opposed Women’s Reservation Bill in LS

As the Women’s Reservation Bill cleared in the Lok Sabha yesterday, it is now set to face another litmus test in Rajya Sabha today on Day 4 of the special session of Parliament. The bill has witnessed an overwhelming majority in the house, with 454 members in favour, however, only two MPs, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi and his party MP Imtiaz Jaleel, have voted against the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Bill on Wednesday.

Asaduddin Owaisi on why he, his AIMIM MP voted against Women’s Reservation Bill?

After the bill was passed by the Lower House, the AIMIM chief talked about why he and his party workers were against the bill. Speaking to the media, Owaisi said that they were fighting for the inclusion of the OBC and Muslim women.

“The population of OBCs in India is more than 50 per cent, but their representation in Lok Sabha is 22 per cent. The population of Muslim women in India is 7 per cent, while their representation in Lok Sabha is 0.7 per cent. So wouldn’t you give them representation?” Owaisi asked.

Earlier on Wednesday, Owaisi also opposed the Women’s Reservation Bill saying that it would provide reservation only to ‘savarna women’ (upper caste women).

Where is quota for OBC and Muslim women?

“The purpose behind this bill was to give representation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. However, there are OBC and Muslim women, who remain under-represented. So, wouldn’t you give a reservation to them?” he questioned.

Further, the AIMIM chief said, “Will you not give representation to the ones for whom you are bringing the law? We voted against it so that they would know that there were two MPs who were fighting for the inclusion of the OBC and the Muslim women.”

Notably, this much-awaited bill seeks to reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women in the Lok Sabha of Parliament.

Centre wants to increase upper-class women representation: AIMIM chief

He added, “This Modi government wants to increase representation for savarna women. They don’t want representation for OBC women and Muslim women. There have been 690 women MPs elected to Lok Sabha and only 25 of them have come from the Muslim community.”

Owaisi said Muslim women face dual discrimination and accused the ruling BJP of denying Muslim and OBC women their due share.