Protest for Women’s Reservation Bill in Delhi to mark unification of Opposition parties

From 9 am to 5 pm on Friday, Bharat Jagruthi will stage a day-long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, Delhi, in support of the Women’s Reservation Bill.

The protest will be attended by approximately 5,000 supporters from 18 political parties, women’s organizations, and civil organizations from 29 states.

The protest is expected to bring the Opposition parties together. Several opposition leaders have confirmed their support for the Bill, including Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, Omar Abdullah and other national leaders from BRS, National Conference, PDP, Akali Dal, Trinamool Congress, Janata Dal (U), RJD, Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPM, DMK, NCP, Shiv Sena, Aam Aadmi Party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and others.

Around 500-600 people will go on hunger strike, led by BRS MLC K Kavitha, demanding that the Centre pass the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill and ensure 33 percent reservation for women in the Parliament and State Legislatures.

Following the directions from BRS President and Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, Ministers Satyavathi Rathod and P Sabitha Indra Reddy, as well as women MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and other BRS leaders, will take part in the day-long protest.

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Mild tension prevailed at Jantar Mantar on Thursday, after the Delhi police asked the Bharat Jagruthi to limit itself to only half of the protest area while allowing the BJP to stage another protest against the Delhi excise policy scam on the same premises.

However, Bharat Jagruthi organizers, along with Kavitha, said that they had planned for 5,000 people to participate in the dharna and had obtained all necessary permissions in advance.

For unknown reasons, the BJP leadership had withdrawn from the Jantar Mantar and decided to stage protest at Deendayal Marg.