‘Apna hai…’: Sonia Gandhi, as Modi cabinet passes Women’s Reservation Bill

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said ‘apna hai..’, upon being asked about the Women’s Reservation Bill.

This comes two days after Minister of State Prahlad Singh Patel posted on social media platform X that the Cabinet has approved the Women’s Reservation Bill, but deleted the post within an hour.

While there was no official word on what transpired in the cabinet meeting, which lasted for more than 90 minutes on Monday evening, speculations were rife that it approved the women’s reservation bill.

Government sources had earlier indicated that the bill has been approved by the Cabinet and was likely to be tabled in the special session of Parliament.

On Wednesday, taking to X, Kapil Sibal said, “Wonder why Modi ji, if introduced, waited for almost 10 years when almost all political parties are in support ? 2024 is perhaps the reason But if the government does not provide quota for OBC women BJP may also lose UP in 2024 ! Think about it !” (sic).

Earlier on Tuesday, Rajya Sabha member and Congress general secretary, KC Venugopal said, “For India to truly prosper, it can’t leave 50% of the population out of decision-making processes. Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji and Dr. Manmohan Singh recognised this and brought the Women’s Reservation Bill in 2010 and passed it in Rajya Sabha. If the BJP is serious, it will pass it in Lok Sabha immediately.”

Meanwhile, BRS MLC K Kavitha welcomed the reported decision of the Union Cabinet approving the Women’s Reservation Bill but expressed apprehension about what the contents of the bill would be.

She also noted that there is no official communication from the Union government and “everybody had to learn of this development through the media”.