Minority, backward women will benefit from reservation: Brinda

New Delhi, Mar 9 : Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MP in Rajya Sabha Brinda Karat on Tuesday said the Women's Reservation Bill now put to vote in Parliament would bring about cultural changes and help minority and backward class women come to the forefront of politics.

"I feel said when it is said that this bill is for only a particular section of society," Karat said debating on the
Bill in Rajya Sabha where it was put to vote after pandemonium.

"I think a myth is being created that backward class and Muslims will not benefit. It is wrong because in a state like Bihar, of the elected women representatives, 70.8 percent belonged to backward classes and Muslims," she claimed.

"Wherever there has been reservation for women in local levels, minority and backward section women
got representation," she said citing the example of Hyderabad.

Supporting the views of the BJP, she said there should be horizontal development and women should come forward
on the basis of merit and not just from reserved constituencies.

"Women are not superwomen. Don't expect them to prove themselves as super women to justify their presence in politics. Their entry into politics will lead to more sensitive politics."

She said by crossing the threshold and reaching the critical mass with 33 percent reservation, women issues like violence on them and female feticide, which are often not considered core issues, would be highlighted.

She said a cultural change will come with more women in Parliament and politics.