New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) A new political party that aimsto boost participation of women in politics, irrespective oftheir caste and religion, was launched by a woman entrepreneurhere today.
The All India Mahila Empowerment Party (MEP) is thebrainchild of Dr Nowhera Shaik, a business tycoon and a humanrights activist.
Shaik, who is the founder and CEO of Heera Group, saidher party will contest the upcoming Karnataka elections and isconfident of playing a major role in the formation of nextgovernment in the state.
Supporting the ban imposed on a triple talaq by theSupreme Court, she lauded the Prime Minister Narendra Modi'sefforts in this direction and sought the setting up of amonitoring system "as Muslim women are still being divorcedunder triple talaq system.""The main agenda of AIMEP is to see India as a developedeconomy where the citizens are able to reap the benefit by thetaxes they pay to the governments and are benefited by theschemes and programs implemented by the government," Shaiksaid.
Shaik said that her party aims at empowering womenirrespective of their caste, religion and domicile region anddemanded that women be provided 33 per cent reservation inParliament and state legislatures.
"The issue of women representation in Parliament andstate legislatures has been pending for a long time and nopolitical party is seriously about passing the Women'sReservation Bill although all political parties have includedit in their election manifesto," she said.
She also sought the introduction of stern laws to curbcrimes against women particularly rape.
Responding to a question, Shaik said that her party isdifferent from the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM).
While it only deals and raises issues concerning Muslims,MEP is a secular party that will work for justice for people,she stressed. PTI PLB RCJ MINRCJ.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.