New Delhi, April 16
Congress Working Committee member & Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra while addressing the Lok Sabha today said, “Implementing women’s reservation in our country’s political system was indeed a historic step. The Congress government, under the leadership of late Rajiv Gandhi, had introduced the provision of 33% reservation for women in Panchayats and Municipalities in Parliament. However, at that time the proposal could not be passed.”
Priyanka further said, “Today, the Prime Minister also referred to this, but as usual, he mentioned only half the story. He said the provision faced opposition back then, but did not clarify who opposed it. The truth is, it was the BJP that had opposed the bill at that time.”
Priyanka further remarked, “A few years later, under the leadership of late P.V. Narasimha Rao, the Congress government successfully passed and implemented this law. Thanks to this legislation, today out of 40 lakh Panchayat representatives, 15 lakh are women who actively participate in our democracy,” said Priyanka.
Priyanka added that from the Prime Minister’s remarks, it appeared as though the BJP was the sole champion, proposer and strongest supporter of women’s reservation. “Yet, any woman will tell you that they can quickly recognize men who repeatedly try to mislead them,” she said.
Priyanka pointed out that when the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in 2023, the Congress fully supported it in line with its ideology. “There should be no doubt that Congress has stood firmly in favor of women’s reservation,” she added.
Priyanka added that the truth is that today’s discussion is not really about women’s reservation at all. “The bill introduced by the Modi government has shifted the entire debate,” she said.
Priyanka said that it could be said that this legislation carries a “political odor.” “The bill passed in 2023 clearly stated that before implementing women’s reservation, a census and delimitation exercise would be conducted,” she said.
“So what has suddenly changed now? Why is the same government trying to move forward on the basis of outdated figures? Why such haste,” questioned Priyanka.
