Kiren Rijiju described the development as disappointing (Img: Internet)
New Delhi: A day after the Women’s Reservation Bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha, the Centre launched a strong counterattack on the opposition, accusing it of blocking a key reform aimed at enhancing women’s representation.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju described the development as disappointing but said it did not reflect a failure of the government. He alleged that opposition parties, particularly the Congress, had exposed an “anti-women mindset” by opposing the bill.
Several leaders from the ruling alliance termed the bill’s defeat a setback for women’s empowerment. Senior leaders, including Amit Shah, echoed criticism of the opposition’s stand.
Priyanka Gandhi slams Centre; Claims opposition united in defence of Women’s Reservation
Chief ministers such as Yogi Adityanath and Manik Saha described the outcome as a “black day,” stating that the opportunity to advance representation for women had been missed.
The ruling alliance also indicated plans to mobilise public opinion on the issue, with protests led by women MPs outside Parliament.
Following the failure of the constitutional amendment bill, the government withdrew related legislations, including the Delimitation Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
These bills were intended to support the implementation of women’s reservation by restructuring constituencies and extending provisions to Union Territories.
Opposition leaders rejected the government’s criticism, maintaining that they support women’s reservation in principle but opposed the structure of the current bill.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said the party would support immediate implementation of women’s reservation without linking it to delimitation or future census exercises.
Women Reservation Bill Falls in Lok Sabha, Govt Drops Other Bills
Similarly, Priyanka Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge argued that the bill’s framework could impact representation across states.
Regional leaders, including M. K. Stalin, raised concerns that linking reservation to delimitation could alter the balance of representation among states.
The opposition described the bill’s defeat as a defence of federal principles, while the government maintained that it was a missed opportunity to empower women in legislatures.
