'Sonia Gandhi Tried To Grab MP's Collar': Five Highlights From BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's Speech On Women's Reservation Bill

Nishikant Dubey, member of parliament from Godda, on behalf of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) initiated the debate on Women's Reservation Bill, today (20 September), in the Lok Sabha.

Here are the five key highlights from the debate:

1. Why a man cannot raise concerns regarding women's issues?

Even before Nishikant Dubey began speaking, opposition MPs started protesting and demanded that a woman MP should take the lead in presenting the BJP's stance.

Home Minister Amit Shah had to intervene before Dubey could speak, questioning why a man cannot raise concerns regarding women's issues.

2. Congress attempted to thrash its allies in the well of Lok Sabha

In a pointed remark towards the I.N.D.I. Alliance, Nishikant Dubey highlighted that Congress MPs had physically assaulted their allies in the well of the Lok Sabha when the previous UPA government had introduced the Women's Reservation Bill in 2011.

He stated, "Mulayam Singh Yadav had then said that his party's MPs would not have been saved if the BJP did not intervene. You tried to murder MPs. Now you have come together in an alliance."

3. 'You are not the dictator here, you are not the queen, you cannot fight here'

Dubey then referred to the 2012 discussion on legislation to enforce reservation in promotions.

He recounted, "When I talk about the Bill to bring reservation in promotion, all those in these benches will be up on their feet. (Congress minister) V Narayanasamy was presenting the Bill. Samajwadi Party's Yashvir Singh was a Scheduled Caste MP; these people talk about Scheduled Castes and Tribes. Yashvir Singh had snatched the papers from Mr Narayanasamy."

He added, "In this Lok Sabha, Sonia Gandhi had then tried to grab his (Yashvir Singh) collar. I had then told her, 'You are not the dictator here, you are not the queen, you cannot fight here'."

4. Highlighting women leaders including one from Left who played a crucial role

The BJP MP raised concerns about Sonia Gandhi not mentioning the names of women leaders who played significant role in advocating the Women's Reservation Bill.

Dubey said, "The two women who spoke in favour of the Women Reservation Bill the most, were Bengal's Geeta Mukherjee and BJP's Sushma Swaraj. We would not see this date without them. But Sonia ji did not mention them. What kind of politics is this?"

It's worth noting that Mukherjee served as CPI's seven-time MP from Bengal's Panskura between 1980 and 2000.

5. Sharad Yadav's controversial 'women with short hair' remarks

During the discussion on the Bill, Dubey highlighted a remark made by the late Sharad Yadav that had caused a significant controversy.

The Bill was first introduced in Parliament in 1996 by the then prime minister H D Devegowda's government.

In opposition to the Bill, Yadav made a comment implying that it would only benefit "women with short hair," which was a euphemism for educated and modern women.

This comment sparked a heated debate and ultimately led to the MP apologising for his statement.