The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) house witnessed a stormy session on Wednesday as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress councillors engaged in a heated verbal duel over the Women's Quota Bill. The uproar led to the adjournment of the house, with both sides trading accusations and counter-accusations.
Background of the Controversy
The Women's Quota Bill, which seeks to reserve 50% of seats for women in the MC, has been a contentious issue. The BJP councillors accused the Congress of opposing the bill for political gains, while Congress members alleged that the BJP was trying to push the bill without proper discussion.
Heated Exchange in the House
As the discussion on the bill began, Congress councillors raised objections, claiming that the bill was being rushed without adequate consultation. BJP councillors retaliated, accusing the Congress of being anti-women. The verbal spat escalated, with councillors from both parties shouting slogans and pointing fingers at each other.
Mayor Anup Gupta tried to pacify the members, but the situation went out of control. Eventually, the mayor had to adjourn the house for 15 minutes to restore order.
Political Reactions
After the adjournment, BJP councillor Saurabh Joshi said, "The Congress is scared of women's empowerment. They are opposing the bill only to protect their male candidates." On the other hand, Congress leader Devinder Singh Babla countered, "The BJP is not serious about the bill. They are using it as a tool to divert attention from real issues."
The bill is expected to be taken up again in the next MC meeting. Meanwhile, women's rights activists have urged both parties to rise above politics and pass the bill for the greater good of women's representation in local governance.
