Women Reservation Bill: Kamal Haasan calls it ‘landmark day in history’

Chennai (Tamil Nadu): ‘A landmark day in the history of our Republic’, said actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan applauding the new Women Reservation Bill tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

“A landmark day in the history of our Republic, as the seat of our democracy moved into its new home. I’m delighted that the first Bill tabled in this new Parliament corrects a longstanding injustice perpetrated against the largest minority in our nation, the women of India. I wholeheartedly applaud the Women Reservation Bill tabled yesterday. Nations that ensure gender equality will always prosper,” Kamal Haasan said in a post on X.

He further called upon all parties to ensure the Bill does not get delayed due to census and delimitation exercise and added that it must be extended to Rajya Sabha and State Legislative Councils.

The actor-politician said, “During the Parliamentary discussion on the Bill, I call upon all parties to address the following concerns - the Bill comes into effect only after the next census and delimitation exercise, both of which have been delayed in the past. This delayed implementation timeline risks making this momentous decision into mere lip service towards the subject and must be done away with, the Bill only applies to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies and must be extended to Rajya Sabha and State Legislative Councils.”

“I look forward to the day when women will have proportional representation in legislative bodies without the aid of any affirmative action,” he added.