The Women's Reservation Bill that was passed in the Upper House of the Indian parliament ensuring 33 percent (one-third) reservation to women's representation in the Lower House and state assemblies is a historic moment for the country. The new law – which is yet to become an act - will change the socio-political landscape of the country. But it is just the first legislative hurdle that India has passed this week. The Bill will be tabled in the Lower House, but given the strength of the ruling coalition, it is expected to have a smooth sail. Commenting on the passage of the Bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that the country will have to recognize that the women have faced enormous difficulties in the country. “Our women face discrimination at home, there is domestic violence, they face discrimination in equal access to education, healthcare there are many such things. All these things have to end if India were to realize its full potential,” he said. A senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Brinda Karat, said: “The women's reservation bill will ensure that many women of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Classes (OBC), poor women and Muslim women would benefit from this historic achievement.” Some of the political parties which were at the forefront of its opposition, like Samajwadi Party (SP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), fear that many of their male leaders would not get a chance to fight elections if 33.3 percent seats are reserved for women. Politicians from these socially and economically backward classes argue that reservation would only help women of the elitist groups to gain seats, therefore causing further discrimination and under-representation to the poor and backward classes, aggravating the plight of the poor and deprived sections. Their apprehension was not out of tune as Muslims in general have opposed the move mainly on account of the fear that the Parliament which is already running short of Muslim representation will further reduce their number as the one-third women representatives will come from the elite as well as Hindu class. Commenting on the development, Bahjat Najmi, president of the Mufti Hifzur Rahman Academy, Jeddah, said that the Bill was anti-Muslim and anti-women. “It is neither going to help the general women of the country – mainly of the low castes – nor the Muslim women. It is meant for the upper caste Hindu families and the politicians who will take its optimum use by fielding their own daughters and daughters-in-law, he said. Najmi toed the line of the Indian Muslim leaders demanding separate reservation for the Muslims within the Reservation Bill. Leaders like Lalu Yadav have already asked 10 to 15 percent reservation for other sections of society. “My party is not opposed to women's reservation, but the case of Dalits, backward classes, Muslims and other religious minorities should not be overlooked,” the RJD leader said. “There should be reservation within reservation,” he demanded. Mulayam Singh, president of the Samajwadi Party, said: “If inadequacy of representation is the issue why not reservation for Muslim women.” It may be noted that the current Lok Sabha (Lower House) has only two Muslim women. A prominent Muslim leader from Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi, termed the Women's Reservation Bill as “regressive”. According to him, it was not in the interest of Muslims. “If the bill is passed, then less number of Muslims will be able to come to the House. I would oppose it,” Owaisi said. Owaisi, however, said “the UPA government has undertaken some good steps for Muslims like introducing scholarship schemes but the proposed bill is a regressive step by the government.” This is indeed a worrying moment for the Muslims of India, who in the absence of any viable leadership on the national level, are groping in the dark to seek answers to their unending woes since Independence. The ruling Congress party has doled out certain facilities like scholarships to Muslim women in education with the aim to empower them, but the question is will the facilities ever reach the common Muslims. There is, however, a faint hope tagged to this Reservation Bill. The new law, which is bound to reverberate across the Indian milieu with apparent transformation in the outlook of the women in general, may result in more Muslim women coming out of their houses to grab the opportunity. It is possible that they too would like to empower themselves through education – which is already visible – and politics. Twenty years ago the lowly caste Hindus had never anticipated to rule over most parts of the country. Twenty years later, if the Muslim women stake their claim to political empowerment, then it should not come as any surprise. What is to be seen is how this important development is being taken by Muslim leaders and organizations.
