Rahul Gandhi Advocates for Womens Rights; Kiren Rijiju Urges Congress to Support Reservation Bill

New Delhi, August 8: Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has voiced his support for women’s freedom and participation in a recent statement. He released a video emphasizing that no nation can achieve full progress unless women are allowed to express themselves openly.

In response to Gandhi’s remarks, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated on ‘X’ that the Congress party should have no reservations about unconditionally supporting the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament.

Gandhi shared his views in a video posted on ‘X’ on Friday. He had also addressed the same topic during an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session on Thursday.

In his post, he wrote, “I was reflecting on how the energy of Indian women is trapped, not allowed to be expressed, and lacks the freedom to imagine. A country cannot succeed unless its women can express themselves.”

In the video, Gandhi highlighted that suppressing women’s voices negatively impacts national progress. He emphasized that a significant part of his political agenda is to make people understand that without women’s expression, our country remains incomplete and backward.

He further stated that women’s empowerment should not be limited to business or politics. It is not only about women excelling in these fields but also about their ability to speak freely at home, within their families, and in public spaces.

Gandhi added, “Women should have the freedom to hold different opinions and question their parents, husbands, and siblings. For India to truly develop, women must gain some freedom from patriarchy and male control.”

In response to Gandhi’s video statement, Kiren Rijiju remarked that it signals a positive shift in Congress’s perspective.

“This seems to be a positive message from the Congress party. There is a visible change in Rahul Gandhi’s attitude towards women. I now hope that Congress will support the Women’s Reservation Bill unconditionally,” he said.

The Women’s Reservation Bill, also known as the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023 or the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, is a landmark legislation that reserves 33 percent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and the Delhi Assembly. The political debate surrounding women’s reservation is intensifying, and all eyes are on the next steps in Parliament.