BJP leaders including Lata Usendi slam Congress and allies as anti-women over Women’s Reservation Bill, accusing opposition of blocking 33% quota and denying millions of women political representation in Parliament and state assemblies.
Political tensions intensified over the issue of women’s reservation as leaders from the ruling party launched a sharp attack on the opposition, accusing them of undermining efforts to enhance women’s representation in legislative bodies. The remarks came during a press briefing where senior leaders alleged that the stance taken by the opposition bloc had stalled a long-awaited reform.
Lata Usendi, a national vice president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, strongly criticised the Indian National Congress and its allies, branding them as “anti-women” over their position on the Women’s Reservation Bill. She argued that the opposition’s approach had effectively denied millions of women a crucial opportunity to gain political representation.
Addressing reporters at the party headquarters, Usendi described the development as a “dark chapter” in India’s political history. According to her, the failure to advance the constitutional amendment was not merely a legislative setback but a blow to the aspirations of women across the country. She emphasized that women had been waiting for decades to secure equitable representation in Parliament and state assemblies.
The proposed legislation seeks to reserve 33 percent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. Supporters of the bill argue that it would mark a transformative step toward gender equality in politics, while critics have raised concerns about its implementation and broader political implications.
Echoing similar sentiments, Kalyani Saha Roy, Chief Whip of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, accused the opposition alliance of obstructing progress. She claimed that despite efforts by the central government, the bill could not move forward due to a lack of consensus. Roy further alleged that the opposition’s stand had deprived nearly 700 million women of their rightful opportunity to participate more actively in the political process.
“The voices of women across the nation have been ignored,” Roy said, adding that political parties that often advocate for women’s rights had failed to support the measure when it mattered most.
Other leaders present at the briefing, including Rajib Bhattacharjee and MLA Antara Deb Sarkar, also expressed disappointment over the outcome. They reiterated the party’s commitment to advancing policies aimed at empowering women and increasing their representation in governance.
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The issue of women’s reservation has remained a contentious topic in Indian politics for decades, with multiple attempts made to pass the legislation. While there is broad agreement on the need to improve women’s participation, political divisions have often hindered consensus.
As the debate continues, the controversy is expected to remain a focal point in the run-up to future elections, with both sides seeking to position themselves as champions of women’s rights and empowerment.
