Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will lead a ‘Jan Aakrosh Mahila Padyatra’ in Lucknow, marching from his official residence to the state Assembly to protest the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. The march, spanning about 1.75 kilometers, is set to commence soon and will involve Cabinet ministers, BJP leaders, and numerous women supporters.
The protest aims to show strong political opposition to the Bill’s failure, which is linked to delimitation and the 2011 Census, according to BJP leaders. They argue that the defeat has negatively impacted women’s representation rights. The padyatra is being portrayed as a display of “women’s anger,” with the ruling alliance emphasizing potential long-term political implications.
Ahead of the march, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak expressed, “Women are voicing their anger. It is disheartening how the Opposition — SP and Congress — obstructed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. There is significant discontent among women, and SP and Congress will face consequences in future elections.”
The political dispute surrounding the Bill has escalated beyond parliamentary numbers, where it was rejected with 298 votes in favor and 230 against. The discourse has transformed into a broader narrative clash between the ruling and Opposition factions.
While the government has framed the issue as one of women’s empowerment and warned of electoral repercussions in 2029 and beyond, the Opposition contends that the Bill masks broader political motives related to reshaping electoral representation in the nation. The Opposition has also queried why the Bill, passed unanimously in 2023, has not been implemented by the NDA government at the Centre.
Similar protests were conducted in other states on Monday, indicating a synchronized demonstration across multiple regions. This has elevated the matter into a significant political focal point.
