The controversial Women’s Qutoa Bill was tabled in Rajya Sabha amidst high Voltage drama. The Bill was first introduced in 1996 by the then PM H.D Deve Gowda’s government to reserve 33.33% seats for women in Parliament and State Legislatures. Twelve years down the line the bill has still not become the law. The Constitution (108 amendment) Bill 2008 was tabled by Hon’ble Law Minister H. R Bhardwaj among tight security provided by women MPs, on 6th May, 2008. The MPs of Smajwadi Party tried to snatch the bill and tear it to pieces. Last time it was RJD which did the same. However, Lalu Parsad Yadav after meeting Sonia Gandhi was unusually mute. Maybe, he feared losing his Ministry in this crucial election year.

Ironically and amusingly the firm votaries of reservation are the one’s opposing reservation to the Women. At last, they are getting the taste of their own medicine. The Women Quota Bill is going to hit where it hurts the most, the Parliamentary and Legislature seats. In effect the whole quota issue was raked, raised and fought over the years for these very seats by the same very persons. They will be damned before they hurt their own self interest, any reservation not withstanding.

Reservation in itself is not an answer to any problem, it’s a political gimmick perpetuated to pursue their vile agendas. The latest development goes on to prove just that. The parties like SP, BSP, RJD, JD etc who swear by reservation, day in and day out, are opposing this particular reservation, tooth and nail. Forward caste women, who otherwise oppose quota for SC & STs are pleased with this particular Bill. The moral of the story, reservation is a good thing, if you are on the right side of the fence.

Talking of reservation, it does more harm than good, to the society. It’s not a visionary attempt at solving the problem but myopic, partisan, petty politics at play. Quota system always kills merit and lowers the entry bar, thereby marring the institution in which it is used. Upto now the women have entered the august house on their own merit. We had leaders like Sushma Swaraj, Brinda Karat etc. After the reservation is introduced we would have likes of Rabri Devi, Supriya Sule or to an extent Sonia Gandhi. Sonia had entered politics and reached the helm solely on the basis of her surname Gandhi. Shorn of her label and the power she derives from it, she have very little to show by the way of a leader.

Earlier, reservation for Women had been made in Panchyati Raj institutes and is considered a great success. However the ground realities are different. Although many Panchyats now have women Pradhans, not many of them could be considered a true representative of women. The elections are fought and later panchyats are run by the husbands of these women pradhans, in proxy. There is a minuscule minority, though, that is different. However, to cater to this minority it would be wrong to infringe over the rights of majority of male pradhans, the right to contest an election and of villagers to choose their candidate.

Reservation is a short sighted, adhoc solution of the deep rooted problem which require, viable, long lasting solutions instead. Rather than flashing quota card as a panacea of all ills and to garner some quick votes, the political leadership should come up with viable lost lasting statesmen like solutions. Surely the people of the country deserve better. But then, again, to expect any one from present political quagmire to be statesman is like asking for the moon.