Women's reservation in Parliament, state legislatures need of the hour, says NCP chief Sharad Pawar

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, and Vidhan Parishad is the need of the hour. [caption id=“attachment_5263321” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of NCP leader Sharad Pawar. Reuters[/caption] Addressing a gathering on the issue of women’s empowerment at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in Mumbai, Pawar said: “Women’s reservation is important. It should be given on priority consideration by all parties. Reservation for women in the Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan Parishad, and Lok Sabha is the need of the hour.” The NCP president further said that leaders from different parties should come together to ensure reservations are given to women. “The government should give at least 33 percent reservation to women if 50 percent isn’t possible,” he added. Stating that he is not happy with the current participation of women at the administrative level, Pawar asked women to participate more in administrative activities and try to grab opportunities at different levels. Furthermore, highlighting the problems faced by Adivasi and women from backward classes, Pawar said, “Adivasi and backward class women seem to be suffering a lot due to gender discrimination. I want their issues to be resolved at the earliest.”