'Bring a Bill which affects 60 crore women': Derek

New Delhi: All India Trinamool Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien made a scathing attack on the incumbent government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not bringing Women's Reservation Bill on the floor of the House.

Speaking during the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in the Rajya Sabha, O'Brien said, "Not only on behalf of the 60 crore women in India but on behalf of the men in India, bring the Women's Reservation Bill. Otherwise, don't say a word about women!"

"You want to bring a Bill which will affect 7 crore women; you know what that Bill is. Why? Bring a Bill which affects 60 crore women, because those 7 crore women like everybody else only want protection, simply protection under Article 14, 15, 16. So don't make it a minority issue," he asserted on Tuesday.

The RS member also said that it is a matter of shame that women represent only 14 per cent in the Parliament. However, West Bengal records the highest 41 per cent of women MPs.

"It's not the only way to empower women, Sir. There are other ways to empower women," the TMC leader mentioned.

Besides, he also took a dig at maiden Modi government's most talked-about scheme for girls, "Beti Bachao Beti Padao", saying that in two years where the central government sanctioned Rs. 650 crore, Mamata Banerjee's incumbent TMC government in West Bengal sanctioned a budget Rs. 700 crore for

similar like "Kanyasree" scheme and got felicitated from the United Nations.

He also attacked the social media firms, alleging they favoured the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the recent general election campaign. "These days with media in hand, it is easy to manufacture great men," O'Brien mentioned.

"We appeal to media owners that you have role to play to save democracy. We appeal to the journalists to bring back the days of Editors, the 60's 70's".

He also demanded sweeping electoral reforms saying that there should be a collegium to appoint the election commissioner. He sought reintroduction of paper ballot.