Volume 18 Issue 20

Page 1

The Observer An IIJNM Publication

Udupi and Chickmagalur MP Karandlaje says BJP will win this year’s Lok Sabha elections | P2

Vol 18 Issue 19

Thursday, March 7 , 2019

North Karnataka farmers suffer because of scanty rainfall and uncertain weather conditions | P3

Pakistanis in B’luru: India, Pak must fight terror, not each other ‘The neighbours should talk, give peace a chance’ Oisika Dev

P

akistani citizens in Bengaluru are concerned over the tension prevailing between India and Pakistan. “After the IAF air strike at Balakot the warlike situation between India and Pakistan is alarming. War signifies loss of life and destruction which will increase hatred. Both countries should try to resolve their issues through negotiation and dialogue,” said Rafiq Alam, a

Pakistani citizen who has lived in Bengaluru for the past ten years. Rubina Haque, who owns a boutique at Koramangala, said: “We are deeply disturbed by the terror attack that claimed the lives of in- Pakistani citizens living in Bengaluru are nocent soldiers. saddened by the tragic loss of life and property | War is not the so- Courtesy: KPN News lution. I urge the India and Pakistan should governments of both countries to resolve their issues through give peace a chance, according to dialogue instead of engaging in a Tariq Yousaf, a Pakistani busiwar which will threaten human nessman who has lived in Bengaluru for five years. “War will lives and property.”

only bring death and destruction. We don’t want any more cross-border terrorism. Instead, both countries should promote a culture of peace and non-violence. The motto of both should be to fight terrorism, not each other. We dont want another Kargil war”. On February 26, IAF planes struck at a training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a terrorist group. The Indian government claimed the strike killed a large number of terrorists. The IAF raid followed the February 14 suicide attack in Pulwama by a JeM member that killed more than 40 CRPF personnel. Continued on Page 2

News Briefs l Escalating his attack on the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called it an “enemy of farmers” and accused the State of not yet submitting the list of beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PMKSNS). l Exposing the rift persisting within the Sri Lankan government, President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday said he would ask the UN Human Rights Council to reconsider its 2015 resolution on the country, as he did not wish to “ropen old wounds”. l Capacity addition in the wind energy sector will slow down over fiscal 2019 to 2023, with only 14-16 GW being added due to a decline in bid responses.

Women’s Reservation Bill lies in cold storage

Lack of interest, opposition prevent passage’ Sahana S

T

he issue of women’s reservation Bill has been brought up ahead of the Lok Sabha elections due in less than two months. Many Bengalureans hope to see more women representatives from Karnataka through the 33% reservation proposed for women. Dr Harish Ramaswamy, a political scientist and professor at Mysore University, informed The Observer: “When compared to 17.5% of women representatives in Pakistan and US, India has only 12% women representa-

tives. Laws addressing women’s problems, including the dowry Act, are a failure because of fewer women representatives.” Women should not only have 33% reservation in legislatures but also be allowed to play decision-making roles rather than be portrayed as mere representatives, Ramaswamy added. Meena Kumari, a senior advocate in the Karnataka High court, said: “The Bill is a vital piece of legislation that could change the structure of Indian politics. Active participation of women in Parliament will bring equality and solidarity that understands the values of human rights in society.” The Bill, passed by Rajya Sabha in 2010, never got through

the Lok Sabha. It has faced many obstacles because of lack of political consensus.. BBMP councillor JM Savitha Mayanna Gowda said: “We need to have more women representatives in Parliament. It would give Parliament a better opportunity to understand issues concerning women. Moreover, it would bring a change in society as they can make right decisions in difficult situations.” “Every bill has its own merits and demerits, but if the women’s reservation Bill is passed, then it would have the capacity to change Indian politics. Even though the law raises the abilities of women and (promises to) end gender discrimination, it would highlight the goals of development and peace in society,”

explained Kavitha M, a political science professor at the Government PU College. Speaking to The Observer, Shewtha B, a freelance journalist, said: “More women from rural areas should understand the value of the Bill.” Many believe the Bill will help in the uplift of women in rural India. Others say it will give women a decisive say in Parliament and the state legislatures, strengthening democracy. Although both Congress and BJP promised in their manifestos to pass the Bill, it has been in cold storage. In 2017, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to have the Bill passed in the lower House of Parliament.

Bhaskar D., CEO of Vidyarnaya, an NGO that works for women’s empowerment, said: “Women should have a chance to prove their abilities in Parliament. Moreover, providing reservation in the parliament will raise the participation of women in politics.” Though the Bill had the support of the Congress, CPI, CPM and AIADMK during UPA rule, opposition from the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal – which backed the Congressled government – prevented its passage. With the NDA government showing no interest in getting it passed, the fate of the Bill remains uncertain. sahana.s@iijnm.org


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.