Empowerment of women: BJP goes one up on UPA

BJP President Rajnath Singh appears determined to steal the UPA's thunder when it comes to women empowerment.

Singh, in a challenge of sorts to the UPA "" which sought to show its nomination of Pratibha Patil for the presidential elections as a sign of its commitment to women "" said the BJP would try to reserve 33 per cent seats in the organisation for women. He has set up a committee headed by BJP General Secretary Sushma Swaraj for this.

"I believe women deserve 33 per cent reservation within the party organisation and I will like the executive to consider changes in our party constitution for this," he said while addressing the BJP National Executive here.

Farmers, another section which the UPA is trying to woo, also caught Singh's attention. In his presidential address, Singh decried the finance ministry's move to include rural banks under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act. Singh said this would increase agrarian distress.