JDS Questions Congress Over Non-representation of Women In Ministry
The State Government expanded the cabinet on Monday wherein 19 MLAs all men were sworn-in as Ministers while a lone woman MLC Gayathri Shantegowda was initially announced in the list but her name was dropped in the list released later. Ministerial aspirants-Laxmi Hebbalkar and Umashree also missed from making it into the ministry
BENGALURU: Opposition party-Janata Dal Secular (JDS) on Tuesday questioned the ruling Congress party in Karnataka over missing women representation in the D.K. Shivakumar ministry and asked the Congress party to “correct this glaring injustice and ensure women receive representation they rightfully deserve in the State Cabinet.”
The State Government expanded the cabinet on Monday wherein 19 MLAs all men were sworn-in as Ministers while a lone woman MLC Gayathri Shantegowda was initially announced in the list but her name was dropped in the list released later. Ministerial aspirants-Laxmi Hebbalkar and Umashree also missed from making it into the ministry.
Over women going unrepresented in the Karnataka government, JDS stated “Denying capable and deserving women leaders their rightful place in government is nothing short of discrimination.”
Stating that women constitute 50 percent of Karnataka’s population, JDS asked the Congress party leaders “Does the Congress government believe they deserve no representation in decision-making?”
The Congress seeks women’s votes during elections but denies them a share in power. Not a single woman has found a place in the latest Cabinet expansion, the party said and asked “Is this the Congress party’s idea of Nari Shakti (women’s power)?”
Accusing the Congress party of “political hypocrisy,” JDS said “Lengthy speeches on women’s empowerment mean little when women are completely ignored in Cabinet formation and stated not considering women representation “This is not empowerment.”
Congress MLA representing Mudigere Assembly seat, Nayana Motamma told reporters in Bengaluru on Tuesday exuded confidence in Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar filling the lone vacant post would be represented by a woman in coming days.
