Opposition Leaders Condemn PM Modi's Women's Reservation Bill Address
In a sharp political confrontation, opposition leaders on Saturday launched a fierce critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his address on the women's reservation bill. The Prime Minister had accused the TMC, Congress, DMK, and their allies of being complicit in "foeticide" by obstructing the passage of the quota bill in the Lok Sabha.
TMC MPs Dismiss PM's Speech as 'Dramebaazi'
TMC MP Derek O'Brien delivered a scathing response, stating, "Narendra, the worst form of insulting women is to have used them as a DECOY to try and pass the Delimitation Bill." His colleague, TMC MP Mahua Moitra, dismissed the Prime Minister's speech as mere "dramebaazi," asserting that the women's reservation had already been enacted in 2023 and officially notified just two days prior.
Moitra elaborated in a social media post, "Hello @narendramodi - Your dramebaazi & your Godi media script will not hide truth- women’s reservation already passed in 2023 & notified 2 days ago. NOTHING stops you from implementing it now & giving 1/3 of 543 seats to women the way TMC has done."
PM Modi Apologizes for Bill's Defeat
During his address, Prime Minister Modi characterized the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha as a significant setback for women across the nation. The bill aimed to establish a 33% reservation for women and expand parliamentary seats to 816 ahead of the 2029 elections.
"Today, I have come to speak to the mothers, sisters, and daughters of the country. Today, every citizen of India is seeing how the dreams of India’s women power have been crushed mercilessly. Despite our best efforts, we could not succeed. For this, I sincerely apologise to all mothers and sisters," the Prime Minister expressed with remorse.
Accusations of Selfish Politics
PM Modi further accused opposition parties of prioritizing their own interests over national welfare. "For us, national interest comes first. But for some people, when party interest becomes everything, then women’s empowerment and the nation’s interest suffer. That is what has happened this time as well. The selfish politics of parties like Congress, DMK, TMC and SP has cost the women of this country," he added, highlighting the political divide.
The controversy underscores the ongoing tensions between the government and opposition regarding women's representation in politics, with both sides presenting conflicting narratives about the bill's status and implementation.
