Subhashini Ali, CPM leader and president of the All India Democratic Women’s Association, says that when women parliamentarians got together to bring the Women’s Reservation Bill two decades ago, parties promised them that the legislation would not even require a debate. Yet, two decades later, the Bill awaits Parliament’s nod. She speaks to Amrita Madhukalya

What do you think lies at the core of the impasse?

It is quite simple — male politicians in India do not want to give up their seats. They think, ‘if my seat goes to her, what will happen to me?’ Today, being a part of an elected office involves money and power, and no one is willing to throw that away.

Do you think that, like in the past when they walked hand in hand, women legislators will still come out today in support of the Bill?

It is very difficult now, with increasing polarisation. Different political leaders are scared of upsetting their leaders. We have called meetings several times but several women legislators have told us that that while they support us, they will not not be able to vocally lend that support. And even if a party worker commits rape, women from the party never condemn it.

When the Bill was first mooted and drafted, did you think that it would take this long?

When we first announced it, all the parties said that the Bill will not even require a discussion and will be passed univocally. But when it was introduced, the men betrayed us. The Congress, too, did not press for a vote.

Do you think that able women leaders have not been elected to the offices of the government because they are never the first choice?

That’s true. The political system today is becoming increasingly exclusionist; it is moving opposite to what the Bill had envisaged. Money is becoming very important. They have now made it mandatory for women to have certain educational qualifications and even a toilet at home. What does a woman do if she’s poor, or if the sewage system does not work in the country. For poor women, Dalit women, and women from SC/ST communities the electoral system remains a dream.

There’s an oft-repeated criticism of the Bill that women will merely make women pawns at the hands of men. What do you have to say to that?

That’s simply criticism for the sake of it. Today elected representatives act like they are simply pawns in the hands of power. Why else are there so many MPs and MLAs holed up by party leaders in resorts. There’s a lot of money and power at stake in electoral offices today, and a woman is never a priority.

The BJP, in its manifesto, said that the Bill was a priority. However, Venkaiah Naidu, now Vice President, had said as Parliamentary Affairs Minister that the party will proceed after it has a majority in the Rajya Sabha.

The Prime Minister, in his first speech after he took office, said that the Women’s Reservation Bill is a priority. But three years have passed and the Bill is nowhere on the agenda. The PM will face opposition on this in his own party. In fact, Yogi Adityanath had gone on record saying that he is opposed to the idea; and he’s no exception.