Opposition and BJP trade sharp attacks over bill failure and alleged political intent
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra statement
“Democracy has won; women will not forgive,” said Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after the Women’s Reservation Bill failed to pass in Parliament.
She said that the government has lost public trust and claimed that its “conspiracy” has been exposed. She also asserted that the opposition has protected democracy.
Furthermore, she stated that the opposition did not oppose the Women’s Reservation Bill itself. However, she alleged that the government had hidden intentions behind it. In addition, she argued that if the delimitation (redrawing of constituencies) bill had been passed, it could have created an imbalance in representation. Therefore, she concluded that the opposition acted to safeguard democratic principles.
On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party strongly criticized the Congress. In this regard, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the “stain” on Congress would not be removed easily and added that the opposition would face the anger of women across the country.
Similarly, BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad and Smriti Irani also attacked Priyanka Gandhi’s remarks. Ravi Shankar Prasad stated that it was unfortunate that the opposition blocked such an important bill. Meanwhile, Smriti Irani said that Congress celebrated while denying women their rights and added that women would respond politically.
Meanwhile, the BJP organized nationwide protests against the opposition’s stance and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra statement. Consequently, party workers staged demonstrations in several parts of the country.
