LUCKNOW, Apr 19: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday slammed INDIA bloc MPs for the defeat of a Constitution amendment bill to implement women’s quota in legislatures and likened their actions in Lok Sabha to the “cheerharan” (disrobing) of Draupadi, a prominent character in the epic Mahabharata.
Attacking opposition parties including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, TMC and DMK, Adityanath said they were “anti-women” and their speeches and actions had exposed them.
On Friday, a Constitution amendment bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 was defeated in the Lower House.
“When some southern states raised the issue that rightful share might get reduced, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah gave assurance that in accordance with the framework established by the 2011 Census, the representation for the southern states would increase in exactly the same ratio as it does for the northern and eastern states,” Adityanath said.
There was only one wish that the Lok Sabha should unite to pass the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam along with the amendment, he said.
“However, the scene which played out in the House, how the INDIA bloc — the Congress, Samajwadi Party, TMC, and DMK — acted, draws our attention back to the scene of the ‘cheerharan’ of Draupadi (in the Kaurav assembly). The nature of the remarks, especially the irresponsible comments made by the opposition, the behaviour (they displayed) is known to everyone,” the chief minister told reporters here.
Adityanath also said that when the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014, Prime Minister Modi made one point very clear to the nation that there are only four castes in the country — women, the poor, youth, and farmers.
“Those individuals acting with the malicious intent of weakening India, who have plundered the nation to enrich their own families under the guise of caste-based politics, naturally perceived this declaration both as a challenge and a warning,” he said.
“Consequently, whenever any progressive measure was taken under the prime minister’s leadership, the Congress party along with its allies consistently opposed that progressive vision and every step taken in the national interest,” Adityanath said.
Today’s press conference has been called specifically to address the developments surrounding the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and to highlight the public’s reaction to it, he said.
“We can say that there is immense anger among ‘aadhee abaadee’ (women of this country) regarding the opposition’s anti-women conduct,” he added.
“This anger is directed specifically at the Congress party and its allies in the INDIA bloc including the Samajwadi Party, RJD, TMC, DMK, and other parties that were also involved in the sin,” Adityanath said criticising the opposition.
Referring to the issue of reservation for Muslim women raised by the SP, Adityanath said, “When the Constitution of India was being drafted, even then a demand was raised to grant reservation on the basis of religion. Unanimously, all political parties at the time opposed this proposal. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar penned a very strong commentary on this matter.”
“The nation has already undergone Partition; it cannot be prepared for a second partition. ‘Iron Man’ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel took a firm stand. All members associated with the Constituent Assembly at that time vehemently opposed the idea (religion-based reservation,” he said.
He also questioned the Congress and the SP whether the proposed legislation infringed upon the rights of men, asserting that it was a progressive step aimed at women’s empowerment.
Referring to the Shah Bano case, the chief minister alleged that the Congress had attempted to deprive Muslim women of their rights, and credited Prime Minister Modi with “atoning” for it by banning triple ‘Talaq’.
He claimed that the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies, including the SP, TMC, and DMK, had opposed the law, reflecting “double standards”.
Adityanath further said that despite being in power for so long, the Congress failed to initiate meaningful measures for key sections such as women, the poor, farmers and youth, and added that since 2014, the Modi government has worked for all sections without discrimination.
Union minister Annpurna Devi was also present at the presser.
On Friday, while 298 members voted in support of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha, 230 MPs voted against it. The bill required 352 votes to secure a two-thirds majority.
According to the Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to 816 from the current 543 to operationalise the women’s reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. Seats were also to be increased in state and Union territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
This was for the first time a bill under the Modi government was defeated in Parliament. (PTI)
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