Chandigarh, April 25
Braving intense heat, hundreds of women from across Punjab, led by BJP Punjab Working State President Ashwani Sharma, marched towards the residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, demanding an explanation from the Aam Aadmi Party for opposing the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, the legislation providing 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.
The Chandigarh Police detained several leaders as they attempted to march towards the Chief Minister’s residence. Those detained included former Union Minister Preneet Kaur, State President of BJP Mahila Morcha Punjab Jai Inder Kaur, Mohinder Kaur Josh and Mona Jaiswal (both Vice Presidents of BJP Punjab) and Meenu Sethi, Vandana Sangwan and Renu Thappar (all State Secretaries), along with Ekta Nagpal.
Raising slogans of “Nari Shakti Zindabad,” the women vowed to continue their fight for equal rights and demanded the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill. Addressing the gathering earlier, Ashwani Sharma stated that the Narendra Modi-led BJP has consistently stood for women’s empowerment.
“While political parties often disagree on various issues, it is surprising that Congress and AAP have come together in opposing reservation for women,” Sharma said. He added that this reflects sheer political opportunism, with both parties indulging in vote-bank politics and resisting structural reforms that could alter their internal power dynamics.
Jai Inder Kaur termed the blocking of the Women’s Reservation Bill a “black day” for democracy. “Congress and AAP have consistently treated women merely as a vote bank and have failed them when it comes to ensuring rightful representation. The INDI alliance appears threatened by the growing political empowerment of women. Women across India will respond strongly to this insult,” she said.
Preneet Kaur stated that instead of earning goodwill by promoting women’s interests, the opposition has played a negative role in obstructing the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill. She urged all political parties to rise above personal interests and work towards the upliftment of half the country’s population.
