Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation once again tonight, Saturday, at 8:30 PM. It's widely anticipated that the Prime Minister will speak on the Women's Reservation Bill and may criticize the opposition for their lack of cooperation in passing the constitutional amendment. This development follows a heated two-day debate in the Lok Sabha, where the bill failed to pass on Friday due to the opposition voting against it.
Political Turmoil Following Bill's Failure in Lok Sabha
The constitutional amendment bill, which aimed to implement women's reservation from 2029 and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats, was rejected during voting after an extensive debate. The day following the rejection has seen a flurry of political statements from both sides. While the opposition has termed the bill a conspiracy by the central government, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a scathing attack on the opposition parties.
BJP Terms Rejection a 'Black Day' for Democracy
The BJP described the rejection of the bill as a 'Black Day' and accused the Congress and other opposition parties of 'betraying' the women of the country. ' He remarked that this act remains a 'black spot' on the Congress and its allies that can never be erased. Rijiju questioned how anyone could object to a bill intended to provide historic representation to women.
Impact on Regional Representation and South India
Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje targeted Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the opposition's move weakened both women's empowerment and regional representation. She specifically mentioned that the decision harmed South India, where seats were expected to increase by over 50%. She claimed that women were deprived of a golden opportunity under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj also accused the Congress and the INDIA bloc of deceiving women and retreating from their previous stance.
Opposition's Defense: A Victory for the Federal Structure
On the other hand, opposition leaders accused the government of using the issue for political gains in the upcoming West Bengal and Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacked the Centre, stating that the bill was a conspiracy to alter the federal structure. She called its failure a historic victory for the Constitution and opposition unity. She suggested that the government could immediately implement the 2023 Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam based on the current 543 Lok Sabha seats, promising full opposition support for such a move.
Objections to Delimitation and Legislative Process
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor clarified that the opposition doesn't oppose women's reservation but objects to linking it with delimitation. He stated that the bill could have been passed on Friday itself if it weren't for the delimitation clause, while samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav questioned the legislative process, asking why an amendment was necessary when the bill had already passed in 2023. He suggested that bringing the bill without a two-thirds majority indicated a purely political motive behind the move.