New Delhi: “First submission, good, best submission.” This is how Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu lauded Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha, Sasmit Patra, for raising the Women’s Reservation Bill issue during the Special Mentions in the Upper House.
Patra, who is also a BJD spokesperson, recently took oath as Rajya Sabha member.
Taking to Twitter, the BJD MP expressed gratitude to Naidu for appreciating his first submission in the Rajya Sabha.
I express my deep gratitude to Hon’ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha Shri. M.Venkaiah Naidu ji for his kind & warm appreciation at the end of my first submission in Rajya Sabha today, terming it as “good, best submission.” I am extremely grateful @MVenkaiahNaidu Sir for your kindness. pic.twitter.com/Jz7dgHeq1u
— Dr. Sasmit Patra (@sasmitpatra) July 8, 2019
Patra regretted that the Women’s Reservation Bill had been pushed to the back burner. “It was expected that after the elections, with the new government coming to power, the fortunes of passing the Women’s Reservation Bill would improve. But, in this session of Parliament it has not been brought forth,” he said.
The submission was on the lines of the BJD government’s efforts to push for 33 per cent reservation for women in legislative Assemblies and Parliament. In November last year, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had moved a resolution in this regard in the Assembly.
The BJD MP said that delegations have been sent to about 22 political parties to garner support for passing the Bill.
Keeping with it, the regional party had also announced 33 per cent reservation for women in ticket allocation during the recently-concluded general election as well as 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions, Patra said.
The BJD had fielded 7 women candidates in 21 Lok Sabha seats and five of them emerged victorious.
Stating that the Bill not being brought forth is another lost opportunity, Patra requested the Union government to take immediate steps in this regard.
