Sharad Joshi, the only MP who opposed reservation for women in Parliament is no more

New Delhi: Farmers' leader Sharad Joshi passed away on Saturday in Pune. Sharad Anantrao Joshi, the founder of Swatantra Bharat Paksh party and Shetkari Sanghatana, was born in Satara on September 3, 1935.   

Joshi led several protests in Maharashtra and other states for the farmers' rights and anti-farmers' govt policies. 

Sharad Joshi was a columnist for leading dailies like The Times of India, ' Business India, and 'Lokmat'. He also authored books on agricultural issues. 

Joshi was also a Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra from July 05, 2004 to July 04, 2010. Joshi was the only MP in the upper to house who was against the bill seeking 33 per cent reservations for women in Parliament and state Assemblies.