Gandhinagar, April 19: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated on Sunday that any force opposing women’s rights will not survive now or in the future. His remarks came as BJP leaders accused Congress and its allies of blocking the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Amendment Bill’ in Parliament.
During a press conference at the state BJP headquarters, Patel emphasized that the proposed legislation is not just a law but a decisive step towards women’s empowerment through 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
He pointed out the contradiction in Congress’s stance, claiming they advocate for women’s welfare while simultaneously attempting to obstruct their legal empowerment. This hypocrisy has been exposed, he asserted.
Central Minister and Maharashtra MP Raksha Khadse stated that the bill, introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, aims to ensure dignity and rights for women but faced disruption in the Lok Sabha.
Khadse accused Congress of betraying the future of women and youth in the country by preventing the bill’s passage. Despite clear provisions in the 2023 law stating it would only be implemented after delimitation, Congress politicized the issue, leading to injustice against women.
She noted that this initiative was meant for all women and youth, not just a single party. Khadse also mentioned that delimitation would increase the number of Lok Sabha seats, and women across the nation had hoped Congress and its allies would support the bill.
She highlighted various initiatives by the central government aimed at women’s empowerment, stating, “Since 2014, work has been done not just on paper but on the ground. This includes providing gas connections to over 11 million families under the Ujjwala scheme and empowering women through self-help groups.”
Khadse also pointed out that several states have granted up to 50% reservation for women in local body elections, yet the historic path to increase their representation in Parliament and assemblies has been obstructed.
State BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma remarked that the events in Parliament were not just a defeat for a bill but a direct attack on the dreams of 700 million mothers, sisters, and daughters.
He criticized Congress for promoting women within their own families while blocking opportunities for ordinary women, reflecting the party’s mindset. Vishwakarma claimed that the party feared women from non-political backgrounds would enter Parliament and challenge dynastic politics.
He accused opposition parties of deliberately preventing the bill from achieving the necessary majority. “Empowering women is not just a matter of power for us; it is about equality and rights. Women across the country are watching these developments,” he stated.
BJP leaders reiterated that the law aims to ensure women’s representation beyond political boundaries and is linked to the delimitation process for balanced constituencies.
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