New Delhi [India], Dec 9 (ANI): Congress party president Rahul Gandhi has asked Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to pass "a resolution calling for the reservation of one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies for women, in the next session."

In a letter written to Chief Minister Singh, Rahul has stated, "In order to affirm our support to the passage of the (Women's Reservation) Bill, it would be expedient for the State Assembly to pass a resolution calling for the reservation of one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies for women, in the next session." The 3-day long Winter Session of Punjab Assembly will commence on December 13.

In the letter dated December 6, Gandhi writes, "While Indian women have made rapid strides in all spheres, they continue to be severely underrepresented in our Parliament and State Assemblies. True empowerment entails that an adequate number of women are represented in our legislative bodies."

"India ranks 148th out of 193 countries in terms of the percentage of women in our Parliament. The situation is even worse in our State Assemblies. The lack of adequate representation of women in our polity undermines our democracy and perpetuates existing systemic injustices," Rahul adds in the letter, a copy of which is with ANI.

It is worth mentioning that the Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution 108th Amendment Bill in 2010. However, the Bill lapsed after the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha in 2014. The Legislative Assemblies of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have already taken a lead and passed a resolution calling on the Central government to enact the Women's Reservation. Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev had also written to all Congress-led state governments, regarding Women's Reservation Bill vide her letter dated November 23, 2018.

According to Rahul, the Congress and several parties have called on the Prime Minister to ensure the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill and pledged their support. "While the opponents of the Bill have cast doubts on the ability of women to effect change, the leadership role taken on by women after the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments have proved the detractors wrong," he writes in the letter.

"Women in institutions of local self-governance have not only been effective leaders but also challenged traditional gender roles that curtailed their participation in public life. In my interactions with women around the country, have witnessed their remarkable resilience and commitment to public service," Congress president further wrote in the letter.

On July 16 this year, the Congress president had sent a similar letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to ensure the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. "Mr Prime Minister, in many of your public rallies you have spoken about your passion for empowering women and involving them more meaningfully in public life. What better way to demonstrate your commitment to the cause of women, than by offering your unconditional support to the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill," Rahul had stated in the letter. (ANI)