All India Mahila Congress president Prabha Thakur on Tuesday said the 33 per cent reservation for women would soon become a reality, and criticised the demand for a quota within quota made by some parties.
Addressing a rally of women Congress workers here, first of its kind in the Valley in recent years, Ms. Thakur said the 33 per cent reservation in Parliament and State Assemblies “will cover Muslims, Hindus, Dalits and other sections of women.” But a separate quota for Muslims was not possible. “The law doesn't allow this.”
Ms. Thakur said she had recommended a four per cent job reservation for women of Jammu and Kashmir and other States in Government of India departments. United Progressive Alliance chairperson “Soniaji has agreed to it. She has also agreed to provide loans to women at four per cent interest rate. This will help women earn a livelihood in their homes.”
The Centre had released for Jammu and Congress Rs.6,000 crore under a special category. “You should be proud that you are living in a State that enjoys a special status,” she said.
PCC president Saifuddin Soz said the Congress wanted better relations between India and Pakistan.
“The doors for dialogue will be thrown open by Soniaji and [Prime Minister] Manmohanji the way they threw open the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road. They are now going to throw open the Mughal road.”
Keywords: Women Reservation Bill
