BJD Demands Passage Of Women’s Reservation Bill In Parliament; To Raise Issues Of State Interest In Both Houses

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal has demanded for the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Winter Session of the Parliament beginning from today. Party National Spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Dr Sasmit Patra raised the issue at the all-party meeting convened by the government yesterday. He has said that empowerment of women is necessary for the overall development of the country. The Women’s Reservation Bill seeks to reserve one-third of seats in Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women.

The BJD will also raise a number of issues related to State interest in both the houses of the Parliament during the Winter session. Members of the party in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will raise issues such as the discriminatory attitude of the Center towards Odisha in Railway allocation to state, Rural Housing, Drinking water etc. It will also raise issues such as withdrawal of GST on Kendu leaf, Handicrafts and handlooms, lifting of rice from the state, release of central allocation funds, increase in royalty on coal etc.