Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot emphasized the Congress party’s longstanding commitment to women’s reservation in politics. He credited former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for pioneering the inclusion of women in grassroots democracy, a vision that has empowered numerous women in political leadership roles over the past few decades. Gehlot highlighted the Congress’s role in introducing reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions and local bodies, transforming rural governance in India.
Criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gehlot suggested that acknowledging Rajiv Gandhi’s contributions and the UPA government’s efforts would have fostered a more positive atmosphere in Parliament. He refuted claims that the Congress and other opposition parties are against women’s reservation, stressing that there is broad consensus across political parties in supporting this initiative. Gehlot raised concerns about the potential implications of women’s reservation on delimitation and urged for broader consultations with all states and stakeholders, including southern states.
Gehlot questioned whether the Prime Minister had engaged with the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, to build consensus on the matter, highlighting a missed opportunity for uniting different sides on a significant reform. He underscored the Congress’s legacy of women’s empowerment, mentioning trailblazers like Indira Gandhi, the first woman Prime Minister of India, Pratibha Patil, the first woman President, and Meira Kumar, who served as Lok Sabha Speaker. In contrast, Gehlot pointed out that the BJP has never had a woman as its national president.
