Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour & Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, criticized the Congress and the INDIA bloc for betraying women and South India. She highlighted April 17 as a dark day for Indian women due to the failure of crucial Bills in Parliament. Karandlaje emphasized that the Delimitation Bill, along with the 33% reservation Bill for women, aimed to protect the interests of southern states.
She expressed disappointment over the opposition’s celebration of the Bills’ failure, accusing them of neglecting national interests. Karandlaje condemned the Congress and its allies for hindering the Women’s Reservation Bill, delaying women’s rightful representation in legislative bodies. She lamented the rejection of proposals to increase parliamentary seats in southern states, alleging a betrayal by the INDIA bloc.
The Minister criticized the INDIA bloc for blocking the increase in parliamentary seats for states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. She accused the opposition of exacerbating regional divisions for political gain. Karandlaje also pointed out unfulfilled promises by the Congress in Telangana, including financial assistance for women and unemployment allowances, criticizing Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for failing to deliver on commitments.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Karandlaje highlighted the government’s focus on women’s empowerment. She mentioned significant initiatives supporting women, such as education, scholarships, Mudra loans, and MSME subsidies. The Minister underscored the government’s efforts to prioritize women’s empowerment over the past decade.
