Yogi Adityanath Condemns Opposition for Blocking Women's Reservation Bill in West Bengal
During high-energy election rallies in the poll-bound state of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on Opposition parties on Saturday. He accused them of insulting women by voting against the Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment Bill, which aims to provide 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.
Opposition Parties Accused of Insulting Women
Addressing enthusiastic crowds in Cooch Bihar and Jalpaiguri, Yogi Adityanath stated, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced a historic Bill in Parliament to ensure 33% reservation for women, with implementation targeted for 2029. However, Congress, Trinamool Congress, SP, and Left parties collectively blocked its passage.” He emphasized that this move represents a direct insult to half of India's population, undermining gender equality and empowerment efforts.
Specifically targeting the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Yogi alleged, “The advocates of Bangladeshi infiltrators, the TMC, did not allow this crucial amendment to pass.” He connected this to broader issues in West Bengal, claiming that the TMC's policies favor illegal immigrants over local citizens, creating an atmosphere of fear among common people.
Criticism of TMC's Governance and Appeasement Politics
Yogi Adityanath further criticized the TMC for what he described as appeasement politics, stating it limits the party's focus to Muslim communities at the expense of others. He claimed that Hindus in Bengal live in fear, unable to freely chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ due to potential government action or attacks by TMC workers. “Disturbances often occur before festivals like Durga Puja, and permissions are frequently denied,” he added, drawing a contrast with Uttar Pradesh's current situation.
Comparing West Bengal under TMC rule to Uttar Pradesh before 2017, Yogi highlighted improvements in his state. “In UP, we have transformed from frequent riots and curfews to peace. Prayers are no longer offered on roads, and the sound of Azaan is confined to mosques. Religious events like Kawad Yatra and Durga Puja are now conducted peacefully,” he asserted, suggesting Bengal could achieve similar stability under BJP leadership.
Economic and Agricultural Issues in West Bengal
The UP CM also addressed economic disparities, pointing out that farmers in West Bengal are not receiving fair prices for their produce and are forced to migrate. “While potatoes sell for Rs 15-20 per kg in UP, in Bengal, the price is as low as Rs 1-1.5,” he noted, underscoring the economic challenges under TMC governance.
Yogi Adityanath claimed that over the past 15 years of TMC rule, more than 7,000 large factories have closed down, leading to unemployment for 30 lakh people. In contrast, he boasted that Uttar Pradesh has provided employment to 3 crore youth, showcasing the BJP's commitment to economic development and job creation.
Allegations Against Mamata Banerjee and BJP's Stance
Targeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directly, Yogi accused her of opposing Hindus and slogans like ‘Jai Shri Ram’. He also criticized her opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which grants citizenship to persecuted communities such as Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs from neighboring countries like Bangladesh. “Recently in UP, 1,056 families were granted land rights and citizenship under this act,” he highlighted, reinforcing the BJP's pro-Hindu stance globally.
Yogi Adityanath concluded with a rallying call, stating that after the election results on May 4, those issuing threats would be forced to bow before the people. He also reminded attendees that this year marks the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’, urging voters to restore Bengal's glory by supporting a double-engine BJP government at both state and central levels.
