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During her address in the Lok Sabha while discussing the Nari Shakti Vandan ordinance, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule delivered a pointed remark, seemingly directed at her brother Ajit Pawar, stating, “Not every house has a brother who cares about the sister’s well-being (Har ghar mein aise bhai nahi hote hain jo behan ka kalyan dekhte hai).”
This remark raised eyebrows as it appeared to be a response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s earlier speech in favor of the Women’s Reservation Bill, where he emphasized that every household has a brother who works for the welfare of his sisters. While it is speculated that Sule was alluding to Shah’s statement, there are suggestions that her comment may have been aimed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
During her speech, Sule also credited her father, Sharad Pawar, for introducing the first bill granting reservations to women in local bodies. She expressed her ambition to witness a female Chief Minister in Maharashtra, emphasizing the importance of merit in filling public positions.
“Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar granted voting rights to every woman. Mahatma Phule opened the doors of education to them. My father was the first to provide women reservation in local bodies. Any position should be filled by a person with proven abilities. I hope to see a woman rise to become Chief Minister of Maharashtra,” Sule remarked.
Sule did not shy away from criticizing the BJP, revealing that a BJP MP had once advised her to go home and cook. She condemned such behavior, asserting that it reflects the mentality of the entire party.
In her participation in the Women’s Reservation Bill debate in the Lok Sabha, the NCP leader urged the government to address pressing issues, including allegations by Canada of a potential Indian link to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the ongoing Maratha reservation protests in Maharashtra.
“We support the bill, but we also request the government to discuss the Maratha reservation issue, as well as the SC, ST, and OBC reservations in the house,” Sule stated.
She questioned the timing of introducing the bill, accusing the government of pursuing it for political gains. Sule asserted that the bill should target women who face significant socio-economic challenges, suggesting that individuals like her, who have had access to education and nurturing families, should not avail themselves of reservations.
“I’m a people’s representative. People like me should not opt for any kinds of reservation, I feel. The reservation is meant for those who hardly get any chance due to socio-economic conditions. We received good education, our families nurtured us well. Hence people like us should not avail the reservation,” she concluded, suggesting that further discussions could take place once the bill’s implementation begins.
