CHANDIGARH, Apr 19: Union Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Sanjay Seth slammed the opposition and its allies over the women’s quota bill defeat, accusing them of betraying women and prioritising politics over a crucial issue.
A Constitution Amendment Bill seeking to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats and implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures from 2029 under Nari Shakti Vandhan Adhiniyan was defeated in the Lower House on Friday. While 298 members voted in support of the bill in the Lok Sabha, 230 MPs voted against it. Out of 528 members who voted, the bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.
Speaking to reporters in Punjab’s Jalandhar, Khattar lashed out at the opposition parties, blaming them for causing “injustice” to women in the Lok Sabha after the Constitution amendment bill was defeated.
Khattar said there is a big contribution of women in every field, be it in farming, science, industry, medicine, engineering, teaching and sports.
He said that the BJP always wanted that in democracy, women should also have a right in the political space. He accused the Congress of stepping back for some reason or another and creating bottlenecks over this issue.
Referring to the defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill, Khattar said the opposition played a ‘ghinona khel’ (disgusting game) and did not allow the bill to pass in the Lok Sabha.
He said a two-thirds majority is required for passing a Constitution Amendment Bill.
“We had thought that all should show confidence towards women. But they (opposition) did ‘vishwas ghat’ not only with our trust but also with women, which is condemnable,” said Khattar.
He asserted that women will never forget it, and the opposition will face the consequences.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Baby Rani Maurya, who was accompanying Khattar, too hit out at the Congress and its allies, including the TMC, DMK and the Samajwadi Party, over the defeat of the Constitutional Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha, saying they “insulted” women.
“Women can tolerate anything but not their insult,” Maurya said. The Opposition will face the anger of women in the upcoming elections, she added.
Union Minister Sanjay Seth said that INDI Alliance has committed a grave sin, and they should be prepared to face the consequences.
The country is angry, and people will teach them a lesson for this, Seth said. He said that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is not merely a piece of legislation; it is a powerful instrument designed to secure the rightful entitlements of India’s female population — comprising half the nation’s populace.
“It is unfortunate that the Congress and other opposition parties chose to prioritise politics over this critical issue, whereas they should have unitedly extended their support for the empowerment of the nation’s women,” he said.
Accompanied by former Haryana Minister and senior BJP leader Kiran Choudhry, the Union Minister said the opposition’s stance clearly demonstrates that they are not proponents of the genuine participation of women. “We wish to assure the women of this nation that our commitment to upholding their rights and dignity remains unwavering. We will continue to strive relentlessly to ensure that they receive equal opportunities and respect in every sphere of life,” Seth said. (Agencies)
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