New Delhi [India], September 18 (ANI): Former Bihar Chief Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha leader Jitan Ram Manjhi on Monday said that women from lower literacy rate communities should be given reservation in the Parliament.

Speaking to ANI, Jitan Ram Manjhi said, "Women are not behind men in any field. In fact, they are ahead of men in some fields. Women should be given reservations. If the reservation is given to both communities, one with 100 per cent literate women and one with a lower literacy rate in women, then the benefit of the reservation will be taken by communities that have 100 per cent literate women.""Considering these complexities, women from communities with a lower literacy rate should be given reservations," he added.

The demands for the passage of the Women Reservation Bill have increased with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday sought 33 per cent reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies on the lines of local bodies.

During his speech at the annual general meeting of the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank he stated, "The special session of Parliament commenced today, and during that session, we put forth a demand for a 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies, similar to the reservation already in place for women in local bodies. Our demand is rooted in the belief that women should have equal opportunities, not just to cast votes but also to participate actively in governance."Earlier Congress Working Committee on Sunday also adopted a resolution demanding that the Women's Reservation Bill be passed during the upcoming special session of Parliament.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding that the Government of India should provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Parliament.

The Women's Reservation Bill seeks to reserve 33 per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women. Despite being a crucial step towards gender parity and inclusive governance, the Bill has remained in legislative limbo for far too long. (ANI)