Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam legislators passed a government resolution on May 26 to support a 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies. The motion, introduced by Women and Child Welfare Minister Ajanta Neog, calls for this quota to take effect once the delimitation process is complete.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma used the session to accuse the Congress party of being anti-women. He argued that the party failed to pass similar legislation during its long tenure in power, suggesting they had previously succumbed to pressure from coalition allies. Sarma also alleged that Congress leadership instructed their members to leave the chamber during the proceedings, a claim that went unaddressed by the opposition in the House.
The tension began when Congress and Raijor Dal members staged a brief walkout while the Chief Minister was speaking. They were protesting remarks made by BJP MLA Bhuban Pegu. Despite the friction, the opposition members returned to the assembly before the resolution was officially adopted through a voice vote.
Sarma emphasized that the proposed reservation would strengthen women's participation in governance and benefit indigenous communities across the state. He noted that women already play a vital role in the regional economy through self-help groups and credited their historical contributions to the development of Assam.
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