Lucknow: BSP president Mayawati on Wednesday advocated a separate quota for women from SC, ST and OBC within the proposed 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies and said that the absence of such a provision would “negate” the objective of the measure.She said that it would have been apt to allocate a separate quota for women from SC/ST and OBC categories under the provision “which is not a part of it right now”.“Had it been so, it would have been as historic as giving 27% reservation in education and govt jobs to OBCs, as per the recommendations of the Mandal Commission, and after a long struggle by BSP,” she said.She, however, said that the process to give 33% reservation to women in Parliament and state assemblies being taken forward by the central govt “is welcomed despite being delayed”.Mayawati’s reaction came a day ahead of Parliament’s special session scheduled Thursday to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill.“BSP has always demanded 50% reservation for women from all sections, which is in proportion to their population, but no political party was ready to buy the idea given its own compulsions and interests,” the former UP CM said.Mayawati said there was a need to rise above party-based politics and support the move. “Getting something, even if little, is always better than getting nothing. There should be no roadblocks created,” she remarked.Mayawati noted that reservation for women should be seen in the perspective of “safety, respect and growth for women” rather than political interests.“So far, women empowerment has merely been paid lip service, as honest intent and policy for the cause was missing. The result was an increase in exploitation of women,” she said.On the issue of separate quota for women from SC, ST and OBC categories, Mayawati criticised the Congress for demanding it now.“Why are they getting these thoughts now? When they were in govt, they completely overlooked this important issue, given their caste-driven hatred,” Mayawati said.When Babasaheb wanted to introduce the Hindu Code Bill to give women strong legal rights in inheritance, marriage and property, it was the Congress govt at the Centre which did not agree to it, she said, adding that it was in protest to this that Ambedkar resigned as the first law minister of independent India.“Nevertheless, Babasaheb should be thanked for giving women the right to vote same as men,” she said.Meanwhile, she thanked party functionaries and supporters for gathering at the Ambedkar Memorial in Lucknow to pay tributes to Ambedkar on his birth anniversary on April 14.“It was for the convenience of these people that I paid tributes to Babasaheb at my residence, along with senior office-bearers and workers of the party,” Mayawati said.
