Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu criticized the Congress-led Opposition for blocking the Women’s Reservation Bill, calling it a hindrance to women’s empowerment. Naidu expressed disappointment, stating that the move denies millions of women their rightful representation in Parliament. He emphasized the importance of equal voice and representation for women in the political arena.
In a separate statement, Naidu condemned the defeat of the Delimitation and Constitutional Amendment Bill by the Opposition parties, citing it as a disservice to the nation. He highlighted concerns that the upcoming census exercise could potentially lead to reduced representation for certain states due to changes in seat distribution based on population.
Naidu praised the National Democratic Alliance’s proposal as a step towards maintaining federal balance and ensuring fair representation for women. He underscored the significance of recognizing states that have excelled in development indicators and advocated against penalizing them in the democratic structure.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also criticized the Opposition, stating that they missed an opportunity to promote women’s empowerment in legislative bodies. Kalyan expressed disappointment over the failure to support the Women’s Reservation Bill, emphasizing the importance of women securing their rightful place in the legislature.
