New Delhi: "Then we will have reservation
for men," Congress President Sonia Gandhi said in a lighter
vein on Wednesday when a Trinamool Congress leader contended that men
would be a marginalised lot if the Women's Reservation Bill
was enacted and implemented.
The 20-minute interaction happened inside the Lok Sabha
after the proceedings had been adjourned following uproar
over the Bill.
The contention of Kalyan Banerjee, a close associate of
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, was that women could
spread their wings to general seats besides having their hold
on the 33 per cent seats reserved for them in Lok Sabha and
State assemblies.
Coupled with this, it was a possibility that the
constituencies which get rotated for women's reservation could
see the fairer sex continue to occupy the seats which were no
longer reserved.
In such a scenario women could dominate and their share
in the Lok Sabha and State assemblies could be more than 33
per cent much to consternation of men, he contended.
By this time, over 30 members, including some from
Congress, had gathered around Gandhi.
"Men will still be winners," Gandhi remarked, making
light of the argument made by Kalyan Banerjee.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also present during
the interaction.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 13:53