Opposition leaders slammed the BJP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari accused the government of undermining the Constitution and federal structure in the guise of women’s reservation. Tiwari criticized the BJP for allegedly attempting to dilute the Constitution and federal setup under the pretext of women’s empowerment.
He directly addressed the Prime Minister, accusing the ruling party of deceit and urged them to implement the bill passed in 2023. Tiwari emphasized the importance of upholding the dignity of the Prime Minister’s office and called for genuine empowerment measures. Independent MP Pappu Yadav also joined the criticism, highlighting past governments’ efforts in women’s empowerment and condemning the current government’s political tactics.
Yadav questioned the ruling party’s commitment to women’s progress and credited previous administrations for significant strides in women’s rights. He praised the opposition for safeguarding democracy and ensuring the participation of marginalized groups in governance. The failure to pass the Constitution (131st Amendment) Act and the Delimitation Bill, which aimed to secure 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies, triggered these reactions.
In response, Prime Minister Modi accused the Opposition of obstructing women’s representation progress globally. He defended the proposed legislation as a means to enhance balanced representation and amplify states’ voices. Modi criticized opposition parties for prioritizing politics over national interests, leading to the bills’ blockage in Parliament.
