CPM holds demo for women’s quota in Parl

Hundreds of CPM activists, including many women, held a demonstration in front of the RDC (SD) office here on Saturday demanding 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assembly. The protest meeting was presided over by CPM State secretary Ali Kishore Patnaik.

Stating that while 50 per cent reservation has been made for women in the panchayat and ULB seats, Patnaik demanded that 33 per cent reservation be made in the State Assembly and Parliament seats as women constitute 50 per cent of voters.

He alleged that politicians of different political parties create obstructions whenever the issue of women reservation waked up in the Parliament and State Assembly. Patnaik said the BJP had given assurance in its 2014 election manifesto to present the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha, but is yet to present the Bill.

A team latter submitted a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the RDC demanding that presentation of the Bill in the monsoon session beginning July 17. Among others, CPM district committee secretary Kailash Sarangi, Bidyadhar Jena, Basanta Nanda, Yudhistir Behera, Gopal Panigrahi, Mahila Sangathan district secretary Urmila Jena and Bansanti Sadangi were present.