Welfare Party of India National President, Dr SQR Ilyas (file photo)
New Delhi: Dr SQR Ilyas, National President of the Welfare Party of India, has endorsed the Women's Reservation Bill, providing for one-third of Lok Sabha and state assembly seats to be reserved for women , but also urging sub-reservations for OBC, Muslim, and minority women.
In a statement released today, he welcomed the initiative but also called for the inclusion of sub-reservations for women from OBC, Muslim, and minority communities.
While endorsing the bill, Dr Ilyas criticized the BJP for what he described as a political ploy. He accused the BJP of introducing the bill shortly before the Lok Sabha elections with the intention of delaying its implementation.
According to him, the BJP's apparent aim is to present itself as a champion of women's reservation while keeping the actual implementation uncertain.
Dr. Ilyas emphasized the need for further expansion of women's reservation, considering the diverse social fabric of India and the importance of political empowerment for women from different sections of society.
While sub-reservations already exist for women belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Dr Ilyas urged that women from minority and OBC communities should also be included within the scope of reservation.
He also proposed extending reservation to the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils to ensure comprehensive representation of women from marginalized sections in both Parliament and state assemblies.
The Women's Reservation Bill, which has been a subject of discussion and debate for several years, aims to increase female representation in the political sphere and empower women to actively participate in decision-making processes at both the national and state levels.