Women’s Reservation Bill :
The inside story

For the past three years the parliament has witnessed a strange and grotesque drama. Since 1996 successive governments from HD Deve Gowda’s to ABVajpayee ’s have shed copious tears about the inadequate representation of women in the highest law making bodies. They have each promised to set matters right through immediate affirmative action that would guarantee 33% women members of parliment. Given the initial cross party support, the women’s reservation bill was on the verge of being passed in parliament but nobody had reckoned with the fierce backlash of the political class to a law that could have redrawn the electoral map.

Support and encouragement for the Bill came from unexpected quarters, an ambitious, young, dynamic and attractive lady from Bareilley, a small town in UP. This intelligent lady is pursuing a Masters degree in Computer Applications from Indore. It was this place that her political and ideological career took shape. She started as an inanimate member of the local Mahila Mukti Morcha in the girls hostel. She displayed excellent zeal and enthu in male bashing or anything anti male. But fate had something with more of political inclination in store for her. She went on to become the founder of the "Mard Nirakaran Morcha". But this was just a stepping stone in her political career to the big league. Well, but money was always a hurdle in her plans. so she decided once and for all that she wanted a good job to prove the men of the world her caliber. So when BaaN came to campus looking for smart candidates all that was needed by Richa Devi was a phone call to Delhi, minutes before her interview. Rest everything was a cakewalk after she had made certain movements in the corridors of power. Well, during her one hour technical interview the interviewers were busy attending phone calls from all over India.

Now was the right time to make the biggest move of her strategy against men.The statements from opposition like: "Who has given you the right to put gender above cast" (by Rishi "Bloody" Goel) or "At the end of the 20th century, Indian women should consider it a matter of deep shame that Richa Devis and the Rabri Devis are by and large the only kind of women who make it to the top (or even to the bottom) of our political system" (by Thakurain Reena Singh) infuriated her and she finally decided to settle score with them and show the power she wields. She decided to go to Delhi and infuse new energy and devious political skills in reviving the already dead Women Reservation Bill.

While leaving for Delhi by train ( she always travels second class) the tumultuous crowd of supporters who had come to see her off were evidence enough of the support she enjoys in this city of Ahilya Devi. The air was filled with resounding slogans like "Bihar mein ho Rabri Devi, Indore mein ho Richa Devi" , " Dilli mein awaaz hamari, Richa Devi Richa Devi" and "Mahila arakshan lagoo karo, Richa Devi sangarsh karo". Richa Devi was an island of flowers in the sea of her bhakts who swarmed the platfrom like bees surrounding the queen bee. Her magnanimity was evident as no one left the platform without refreshments. As the train started chugging towards her destination the ocean of heads followed the train for nearly a kilometer demonstrating their support vocally.

Our sssssspecial correspondent from Delhi Mr. P.K. Lele ( the infamous grandson of ABV) using his cccccontacts reports that after hectic parleys with Sonia jis,Mamtajis and Sushma jis of the Indian Poltical System Richa Devi has decided to start a new revolution in the country. Her brain child M.N.M. will become instrumental in garnishing much needed support from the women of the country. She plans to increase the membership of this morcha by using every political trick in the book. The morcha’s membership is open to all women, encouraged to join the revolution by incentives like free nail polish and lipsticks. Following her press conference the cosmetic industry shares shot up and changed a bearish market to bullish.

In an exclusive interview to Mr. P.K. Lele she stated that "I’m sure it will land me in controversy, and I would love it". When asked about her opportunistic style she replied "I like going after everything - that’s my work ethic".

As a service to our esteemed women readers in IIPS we bring for you a message from the messaih of women liberation.

"Women of the world unite! I request all my sisters to be a part of this revolution. So please come forward and give your names to Ms. Ruchi Raita or myself and collect your free cosmetics from the Girls Hostel."