Shimla, April 19
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress and the INDI alliance over the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, asserting that the proposed legislation represents not just a policy initiative but the core ideological conviction of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of women-led development.
Dr. Singh said that since 2014, the Modi government has fundamentally shifted the paradigm of governance by placing women at the centre of policy design and implementation. “Women are no longer passive beneficiaries; they are active architects of India’s development journey,” he said, adding that this transformation reflects a deliberate and sustained policy approach.
Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address in 2014, he noted that the emphasis on building toilets—particularly for women—marked a defining moment in governance priorities. “What appeared unconventional at the time has today translated into dignity, safety and improved health outcomes for millions of women,” he said, highlighting the impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission on sanitation and girls’ education.
Dr. Singh further underlined the transformative impact of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, stating that it liberated women from hazardous indoor pollution, improved their health indicators and enabled economic participation. “This is not incremental change; this is structural transformation at the grassroots,” he remarked.
Dr. Singh emphasized that India always possessed immense untapped female potential, but lacked enabling frameworks. “Over the last decade, the Modi government has unlocked that potential—evident in the rising number of women in civil services, STEM education, research and even frontline combat roles in the armed forces,” he said. “India’s women have moved from the margins to the mainstream, and now to leadership.”
On the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, Dr. Singh said the legislation was designed to institutionalise women’s participation in governance and decision-making. “At a time when the nation was ready for this historic leap, the opposition chose obstruction over cooperation,” he said, accusing the Congress and its allies of placing political calculations above women’s empowerment.
The Minister described the opposition’s stance as a “historic betrayal,” noting that while Congress had invoked women’s reservation for over 50 years, it consistently failed to implement it. “When a credible, constitutionally viable and well-researched framework was presented, they resorted to procedural excuses and diversionary arguments. This exposes their lack of intent,” he said.
Dr. Singh also pointed out that the BJP has already institutionalised more than 33 per cent representation for women within its organisational structure. “Unlike Congress, which remains entrenched in dynastic politics, BJP has promoted women based on merit, performance and leadership potential,” he added.
Expressing confidence in public sentiment, Dr. Singh said, “The women of India are politically aware and socially assertive. They will not overlook this obstruction. This issue has the potential to evolve into a nationwide movement for rightful representation.”
BJP National Vice President and Rajya Sabha MP Saroj Pandey echoed these sentiments and mounted a direct attack on the Congress leadership. She said that women had long been reduced to a vote bank, and when the moment arrived to ensure structural empowerment, the Congress chose to retreat.
Taking a pointed dig at Priyanka Gandhi, Pandey said, “Slogans like ‘Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon’ ring hollow when the biggest legislative opportunity for women’s empowerment is abandoned. The country deserves an answer.”
Pandey further criticised the opposition’s conduct following the Bill’s setback, calling it “deeply insensitive and dismissive of women’s aspirations.” “Celebrating the derailment of such a transformative reform reflects a mindset disconnected from the realities and expectations of India’s women,” she said.
Concluding, BJP leaders asserted that the contrast is clear—“On one side is a government committed to empowering women through policy, reform and representation; on the other is an opposition that has repeatedly delayed, diluted and denied their rights.” They expressed confidence that women across the country will recognise this distinction and respond decisively in the democratic process.
