In a recent press conference held in New Delhi on April 18, Congress Member of Parliament Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged the government to swiftly reintroduce the Women’s Reservation Bill of 2023. She condemned the failure of the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha, describing this setback as a “Black Day” for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

Gandhi emphasised the urgency of acting without delay, highlighting the unanimous support the bill received across party lines in 2023. She stated, “If you need to make a few small amendments to it so it can be implemented now, do it and implement it now. Give women their rights, right now,” indicating a strong demand for the government to prioritise women’s rights.

Her comments come amidst growing concerns regarding women’s issues in India, which she argues are becoming increasingly severe. She stated that the public is becoming more aware and will no longer be swayed by public relations efforts or media coverage.

Concerns Over Government’s Legislative Strategies

During her address, Priyanka Gandhi expressed that the opposition’s stance is not against women’s reservation itself but against its proposed linkage to the delimitation and census processes. She cautioned against the government attempting to mislead public perception by intertwining these issues. “Don’t try to mislead them by twisting it around and attaching it to other things,” she asserted.

Gandhi framed the events as a significant triumph for democracy, stating that the government’s intentions to alter the federal structure and undermine democratic processes faced a defeat. She claimed this was a victory not only for the Constitution but also for the nation’s opposition unity.

Her assertion included criticism of how the government has approached the bill, alleging it was designed to attract political credit rather than genuinely tackle women’s rights. She argued that the government’s actions indicate they were aware that the bill was unlikely to pass, merely using the issue for political leverage.

Accusations Against the Central Government

Priyanka Gandhi further accused the central government of strategically using women’s issues to maintain political power. She suggested that the government’s approach involves branding themselves as the champions of women’s rights while undermining other parties as anti-women.

She stated, “They thought that if it was passed, they’d win. If it’s not passed, they’ll become the saviours of women by branding other parties as anti-women.” Gandhi emphasised that the government cannot be trusted to stand by its commitments, particularly regarding women’s rights.

The remarks followed a failed attempt by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to secure a two-thirds majority needed to pass the amendment bill in the Lok Sabha. The vote resulted in 298 members in support and 230 against the proposal, as confirmed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Following the vote, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the Centre would not proceed with interlinked legislations. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the opposition of obstructing women’s reservation, while leaders from the opposition, including Rahul Gandhi, reiterated their support for the bill, opposing its connection to delimitation issues.

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