In a blistering critique, senior BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya accused the Congress of a shocking betrayal against Indian women after the Lok Sabha shot down the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill. ‘The women of India will never pardon this duplicity,’ he warned, highlighting the party’s flip-flop on women’s reservation.
Vijayvargiya painted a picture of calculated deception: ‘They vocally backed the bill for ages, then stabbed it in the heart at the last minute.’ The legislation, popularly known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill, sought to reserve one-third of seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies, a long-pending promise in Indian politics.
Opposition voices added fuel to the fire. Samajwadi Party’s Naseem Solanki from Uttar Pradesh dismissed the BJP’s rhetoric as hollow. Drawing from her own ordeal—her husband’s jailing amid alleged false charges—she lambasted the ruling party for ignoring the ripple effects on families. ‘If they cared for women, why the suffering?’ she asked pointedly.
Solanki credited public wisdom for her bypoll victory, asserting voters discern true advocates for women’s rights. Echoing similar sentiments from Rajasthan, Siddhi Kumari, ex-MLA from Bikaner East, called the bill a beacon for aspiring women. ‘It was meant to empower those dreaming big for their families and society. Its downfall is tragic.’
This episode underscores deep divisions in India’s push for gender equality in governance. With elections looming, the narrative of empowerment versus opportunism will likely dominate discourse, shaping voter sentiments in the months ahead.
