Bengaluru, April 25: On Saturday, women from across the state gathered at Freedom Park for a protest organized by the ‘Nari Shakti Forum’ in Bengaluru. The demonstration targeted the Congress party and the ‘India’ bloc, accusing them of obstructing the implementation of the recently introduced Women Reservation Bill in Parliament.
Addressing the protest, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje emphasized the need for greater representation of women in both the state assembly and Lok Sabha. She insisted that women must be given the opportunity to participate in the law-making process.
Karandlaje stated that the central government is taking steps to implement the Women Reservation Bill for this very purpose. She highlighted that essential laws for the country are made in the Lok Sabha, and women should play a decisive role in shaping policies.
However, she alleged that Congress and its allies did not support the bill, which prevented its passage. Karandlaje noted that Prime Minister Modi envisioned empowering women’s voices in Parliament and state assemblies, aiming to increase the number of female legislators across all states.
She stressed that the current government has entrusted significant responsibilities to women leaders. Nirmala Sitharaman currently serves as the Finance Minister and has previously held the Defense Ministry.
Karandlaje further stated that India has emerged as one of the world’s leading economic powers, with women now playing roles ranging from piloting fighter jets to leading major military operations.
She asserted that women’s voices are strengthened through education and respect, and their economic independence enhances their participation in policy-making, ultimately leading to a more robust governance system.
The central government has implemented various schemes to economically empower women, and she noted that women are now actively engaged in fields like drone manufacturing.
In response to potential criticism from Congress, she pointed out that previous proposals related to women’s reservation were limited to the existing 543 seats in the Lok Sabha. In contrast, the current bill aims to increase the number of seats without reducing male representation.
Karandlaje also indicated that Congress has consistently emphasized delimitation (redistricting) only after the census; however, she warned that this could lead to a reduction in seats for southern states.
She explained that the bill is designed to potentially increase the number of Lok Sabha seats by up to 50% in each state.
C. Manjula, former chairperson of the State Women’s Commission and an advocate, shared her thoughts at the event, stating that there has been an unprecedented rise in women’s power. She called for a widespread public movement in this direction.
Manjula asserted that if women stand united with determination, leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi should certainly hear their voices.
She added that the people of Bengaluru are not just professionals working in offices; they are also capable of standing against injustice. “Indian women are not just flowers; they are flames,” she declared, urging for women’s power to be recognized as a national strength.
She accused Congress of disrespecting women by opposing the Women Reservation Bill and stressed the need for a public movement to express anger against the party.
Manjula urged women to unite and raise their voices in support of the bill, emphasizing the necessity of continuous protests against Congress’s “irresponsible politics.”
S.G. Sushilamma, a Padma Shri awardee and founder of the Sumangali Seva Ashram, also addressed the gathering. She remarked that today’s women are more educated and aware, making them deserving of greater representation in legislative bodies.
She criticized Congress for not supporting the bill and called for united action against the party.
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