Women protesters rallied in India’s capital on August 8th, urging passage of legislation that would reserve one-third of seats in parliament and state legislatures for women. “Women are no longer satisfied with the government’s assurances and promises and want action,” stated Sonia Gandhi, the main opposition Congress Party president. Gandhi has argued that the bill, which was introduced in Parliament in December 1998, is crucial to increasing women’s representation in the highest levels of decision-making. Currently, there are 41 women members of parliament in the 545-member lower house of parliament.
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