New Delhi, July 27 (IANS) Women’s groups across the country Tuesday announced that they would hold a rally in the capital Thursday, which would be attended by Communist leader Brinda Karat and actress Sharmila Tagore, to pressurise the government to pass the women’s reservation bill.
“Thousands of women from all corners of the country would participate in the rally which will commence at 11 a.m. from Jantar Mantar and proceed towards the Parliament House,” said Annie Raja, general secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW).

“Javed Akhtar, Sharmila Tagore, and Brinda Karat, among others, would be joining us. There will be a public meeting followed by speeches and a cultural programme,” she added.

Said Ranjana Kumari, director of the Centre for Social Research: “This is a do or die battle for us. We are not going to give up and this is the message that we want to give to the government. Moreover, women are suffering the most from the back-breaking price-rise… the reservation can be a gift for them.”

The women’s reservation bill seeks to reserve 33 percent of seats in parliament and the state assemblies for women. The government hopes to introduce the women’s reservation bill in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing monsoon session of parliament.

The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha during parliament’s budget session earlier this year amidst protests by the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Janata Dal-United.

These parties are demanding a quota within a quota for dalits, backwards and minorities.