KCR's daughter Kavitha sits on a day's hunger strike amid ED heat in Delhi Excise Policy case

Representatives of nine Opposition parties participated in Bharat Rashtra Samithi councillor K Kavitha's hunger strike in New Delhi on Friday to demand that Parliament pass the bill to reserve 33% seats in legislatures for women.

The demand for the law, passed by the Rajya Sabha during UPA government's tenure, but sternly opposed by Mandal parties who demanded a quota within quota, has incidentally been resurrected by BRS at a time Kavitha faces questioning by investigation agencies in the Delhi excise policy case. Ironically, parties who opposed the bill, such as the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal, joined the hunger strike along with the Aam Aadmi Party, RLD, PDP, NCP, CPM, CPI and Shiv Sena.

Members of youth and women's organisations came out in support of Kavitha's call at Jantar Mantar. Speaking at the end of the day-long hunger strike, Kavitha said, "today the issue is not about Kavitha or a state, but the entire country. How can you grow if you keep half of its population outside? How can a bird fly with one wing? Both men and women need equal representation.... Today, from this stage we request the government that has a clear majority to pass the bill, if it has the intent."


Kavitha is set to appear before ED on Saturday. She was supposed to appear on Friday but took permission to postpone it. In view of summons, the protest became a political issue and a rallying point for the Opposition.