CM attacks opposition over women’s bill, says they will be taught a lesson

New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday launched an attack in Delhi Assembly on opposition parties over the women’s reservation bill, which was recently defeated in Lok Sabha, stating that it was time for women to “stop pleading and start fighting” for their rights.Addressing a one-day special session of the assembly on the issue, Gupta said central govt had enacted Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023 to ensure 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and the assemblies, along with introducing the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill to facilitate its early implementation. But April 16-18 was a "sad chapter" in Indian democracy as women across the country had watched parliamentary proceedings with hope, but were ultimately disappointed.To implement the 33% reservation, Centre had aimed to increase the Lok Sabha strength from 543 to 816 to bring the law before the 2029 parliamentary elections, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 census.Three bills were tabled to implement the changes. Voting against them, the opposition had alleged that the real agenda was to carry out delimitation before the caste census, not implement the women’s seat reservation as that bill was already passed and didn’t need to be linked to the other issues.

CM said women continued to face greater social barriers than men, making special provisions necessary beyond equal rights. She pointed out that while women had significant representation in panchayats and local bodies, their presence in higher legislatures remained low. Of nearly 4,600 MLAs nationwide, only about 10% are women, while the representation in Parliament stands at 13-14%, she added.Gupta said that though the Constitution guaranteed equal rights, it had not ensured equal opportunities. She said the women reservation bill had been introduced seven times over 27 years but failed each time due to political obstacles. The situation began to change after 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with several welfare schemes improving women's access to basic facilities and economic independence, she claimed.Calling the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam a "historic step”, Gupta alleged that opposition parties stalled its progress on "technical grounds", including issues related to delimitation. She said Centre had proposed measures to expedite implementation, but objections were raised to delay the process.The issue is not merely legislative but one of dignity and rights for half the population, Gupta said. She claimed that the proposed framework aimed to ensure reservation without displacing existing representatives by increasing the total number of seats, addressing concerns of regional balance and political representation.Gupta accused the opposition of ignoring women’s interests despite depending on their votes. She cited past instances such as the Shah Bano case and opposition to the abolition of triple talaq, claiming these reflected a pattern of neglecting women’s rights by these parties.Gupta also said remarks made by several political functionaries of the opposition exposed their "anti-women mindset”.Targeting AAP, CM alleged that women were often given symbolic roles without real authority.

AAP, she alleged, uses "satyagraha" to evade judicial processes, calling it a misuse of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology. She stressed that the rule of law must prevail and no individual was above the judiciary.Increased participation of women in legislatures would strengthen policymaking and national development, she said, claiming that women across the country are now ready to ensure implementation of the law.AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha accused BJP of using the assembly for its petty politics.

"The people of Delhi, especially women, are troubled... I want to ask CM Rekha Gupta that in this one day session of Delhi Assembly, you want to discuss the women reservation bill, but women will truly be empowered only when they receive their rights. You should fulfil the promise you made to give Rs 2,500," said Jha.Earlier in the day, Gupta, other BJP ministers and party MLAs staged a protest on the assembly premises over the issue.

They also participated in the assembly proceedings wearing black bands.“India will not tolerate the insult to nari shakti. Congress and INDIA bloc had hatched a conspiracy to stall women’s reservation. Today, on the assembly premises, a strong protest was registered against these anti-women opposition parties,” CM said. “PM Narendra Modi ji brought the historic Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to ensure 33% reservation for the country’s sisters and daughters in Lok Sabha and assemblies. But the opposition, drowned in the greed for power, has once again snatched away women’s rights.

The country’s nari shakti will teach them a lesson.”