Urmila Aryal

Urmila Aryal (File Photo)
Urmila Aryal, Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare, has warned that she would step down from the government if women representatives was not inducted in the interim constitution draft committee.

Speaking at an interaction in the capital on Tuesday, the sole female minister of the cabinet warned, “The government’s move is unjust, impractical and against the declaration of the House of Representatives. I am always with the women; I am ready to resign, write a note of dissent, talk to the party leadership or take to the streets for the 51 percent of women population in the country.”

Aryal further said, she would raise her voices against the matter in the next cabinet meeting, and if it was not heard she would resign and take to the streets.

She added that the decisions taken by the constitution drafting committee were surprising as they never came from the Cabinet.

She also charged that the seven party alliance and the Maoists have treated women as second class citizens, and that there was no difference on the stance taken by them on women.

“The seven political parties could not keep their promise on women’s participation in the affairs of the state. I am surprised that the Maoists also denied justice to womenfolk,” she said.

She said that it was ironic women are compelled to come to the streets even after several people sacrificed their lives for inclusive democracy and parliament’s decision on 33 percent reservation for women at all levels.