Raising the stakes in the gender representation debate, Congress Working Committee member and MP Praniti Shinde accepted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ open debate challenge on the Women’s Reservation Bill. Shinde went further by inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the discussion. Accusing the BJP of using the reservation issue as a guise for implementing hidden agenda, Shinde claimed it could jeopardize the country’s federal unity.
Addressing a press conference alongside party MP Shobha Bachhav, Shinde challenged the Chief Minister to set the venue and time for a public debate. Alleging that the BJP’s special session was a ploy to advance delimitation measures, Shinde and Bachhav demanded immediate application of 33% reservation to the existing Lok Sabha seats without new census or delimitation conditions.
Shinde criticized the BJP’s 2023 Women’s Reservation Bill for intentional delays in implementation. She accused the government of attempting to push through constituency delimitation under the guise of women’s reservation, which was thwarted by the Congress and the INDIA alliance.
Shinde also criticized the BJP’s track record on women’s safety, referencing incidents in various states. Bachhav highlighted the Congress’ contributions to women’s empowerment, emphasizing the party’s role in introducing reservation in Panchayati Raj institutions. Both leaders urged the BJP to drop census requirements and immediately implement the 33% quota within the current Lok Sabha composition.
