Kathmandu, February 8:

A host of women speakers today warned that they would organise street protests if the government failed to guarantee 33 per cent reservation in the Constituent Assembly (CA).

“If the government does not meet our demands on time, we will take to the streets,” said Ratna Laxmi Shrestha, president of Women for Social Energy (WSE), while addressing an interaction on ‘Role of women in CA’ organised by WSE here today.

“If we remain quiet, 33 per cent reservation will not be implemented,” she said.

Phul Mati Chaudhary, president of the Tharu Mahila Jagaran Kendra, said: “Only 33 per cent reservation is not enough for women,” adding, “As women’s population comprises over 50 per cent they must have 50 per cent reservation.”

Mina Sharma, rights activist and journalist, said, “Women are only taken as vote banks. So there should be awareness on political level and there should be division of labour because we are getting more pressure in the name of acquiring rights.”

Tulsa Thapa of the All Nepal Women’s Association (ANWA), said: “Every time commitments are made but they are not implemented, so we should now focus on the implementation of the 33 per cent reservation for women. Otherwise, we will not be able to get even 10 per cent seats.”

Manu Humagain of the ANWA-Revolutionary said 40 per cent representation of women in the interim legislature by the CPN-Maoist was for their contribution during the people’s movement.

She stressed the need for unity among all women organisations to begin another protest to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women.”

Rita Karki, president of the All Nepal Progressive Women, sought specification of constituencies for women in the constituent assembly polls. Shanti Mahato of the Madhesi Women’s Society said that the Prime Minister’s address to the nation yesterday was not a solution to the women’s problems.

Dhundi Raj Shastri, former minister from the Nepali Congress (NC)-Democratic, Dr Narayan Khadka of NC, and Bhim Bahadur Kadayat of Loktantrik Republic Morcha expressed their commitments to support women to get their rights.