Srinagar, Apr 23 (KNO): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Rajasthan minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Thursday said women's reservation must translate into real participation in law-making and governance, asserting that the Narendra Modi-led government has taken steps for its implementation.
Addressing a press conference at Church Lane, Sonwar here, Rathore, accompanied by LoP Sunil Sharma, said the issue of women's reservation had been discussed for decades, but earlier attempts did not succeed. He said similar proposals were brought in 1996, 1998, 1999, and again in 2008, but were not passed.
"There was discussion for years. The difference is clear: who discusses and who implements," Rathore said, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
He said the women's reservation legislation was passed by Parliament in 2023. The implementation of the law was linked to census and delimitation and those steps were necessary under the framework, he added.
The minister said fresh legislative measures were later introduced in April 2026 to help ensure that reservation for women could be implemented before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. "If the process waited for census and delimitation in the ordinary course, it would have taken several years," he said.
Rathore said even with present technology, the census process could take around one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half years, while delimitation would require additional time. He said the government believes in fulfilling commitments through execution.
Targeting opposition parties, the BJP minister alleged that some parties were opposing the move and raising objections despite the need for timely implementation. Referring to concerns over the representation of states, he said such apprehensions were misplaced.
Highlighting women's participation at the grassroots level, Rathore said around 14.5 lakh women across the country are serving in Panchayati Raj institutions, accounting for nearly 46 per cent representation.
"This shows women are already leading at the grassroots level. It was necessary to extend similar opportunities at higher levels as well," he said. He said women should not receive only symbolic representation, but meaningful participation in politics, governance, and decision-making.
The minister said history is written not only through speeches but through decisions. "Women should get equal opportunities to lead and participate in governance at national and state levels," he said—(KNO)