The women sought 30 per cent reservation of seats for women in Parliament a demand never before voiced from a Sikh women's forum.

The Samagam, named after Mata Sahib Kaur, wife of Guru Gobind Singh, who had the honour of adding sugar crystals to the divine nectar when the Tenth Guru founded the Khalsa here in 1699, is the brainchild of Surinder Kaur Badal, wife of the chief minister, and Bibi Jagir Kaur, the new Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president.

While Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal pleaded with the Union Government to meet the women's demand, Union Minister Uma Bharati lauded the rich Sikh tradition and urged women to work for the uplift of their sisters. Union Minister Maneka Gandhi asked women to prepare for challenges presented bythe 21st century, while Surinder Badal urged the women to eradicate social evils. Bibi Jagir Kaur urged women to educate girls and called for more women to baptise themselves. Others who spoke were Member of Parliament Geeta Mukherjee, writer Dalip Kaur Tiwana, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Usha Tai and Bibi Inderjit Kaur Yogi, who attended the meet with a large contingent of American Sikh women.

The 30 per cent reservation for women during the SGPC elections in 1996 ensured the large turnout. Kamlesh Kaur, SGPC member, Patiala, who had brought 15 bus loads of women for the Samagam, said: ``We are proud to be attending the tercentenary celebrations. Women have an important role to play, for the Sikh religion grants them equality.''