Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha is sitting on a day-long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Friday to press the central government to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The hunger strike is organised by her NGO Bharat Jagriti, Kavitha had earlier said, adding, all political parties have been invited to join it.
So far, more than 10 parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, CPI(M) and the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, have confirmed their participation.
Sitaram Yechury, the general secretary of the CPI(M), was seen speaking to the protesters at the Jantar Mantar.
“We appeal to the govt to introduce the Women’s Reservation Bill. We will unite all support outside the Parliament,” Yechury said.
“I assure you until the Women’s Reservation Bill is passed in Parliament, we will continue to support you and this cause,” he added.
Demanding the bill be passed, Yechury said, “this was passed in the Rajya Sabha when I was the MP, this bill needs to be passed.”
In an earlier address to the media, Kavitha, who is facing the ED heat in the Delhi liquor policy case, said the bill has been lying in cold storage since 2010 and the Modi government has a historic opportunity to get it passed in Parliament before 2024.
“About 500-600 members will sit on a hunger strike, but the attendance will be much more. More than 6,000 people and 18 political parties have confirmed their participation,” she said.
CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury will inaugurate the programme.
