New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) Opposition leaders on Sunday strongly criticised the BJP following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to nation on the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, accusing the government of undermining the Constitution and federal structure in the name of women’s reservation.

Leading the attack, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari alleged that the government’s intentions were not aligned with genuine empowerment. He said, “I want to say it very clearly, Prime Minister, your party is deceiving. In the name of women’s reservation, you are killing the Constitution of India and the federal structure. This was an attempt through this. The third thing I want to say is, if you have the courage, then implement what was passed in 2023 today. All the parties will stand with you. But in this way, do not lower the dignity of the Prime Minister’s post.”

He further added, “Your party wanted to kill the Constitution. By bringing delimitation in the name of women’s reservation, your party wanted to remove the federal structure through deceit. I say this.”

Independent MP from Purnea, Pappu Yadav, also launched a sharp attack, crediting past governments for women’s empowerment and accusing the current dispensation of political theatrics.

“In 2023, all parties discussed women’s issues. Who gave women the right to vote and worked to end social evils? Who provided scholarships, pensions, housing, and welfare schemes? Who brought laws like MGNREGA, Right to Health, and Right to Food? Women’s empowerment through Panchayati Raj ensured maximum participation of women, largely due to Rajiv Gandhi,” Yadav told IANS.

Continuing his criticism, Yadav said, “What is their contribution to women’s progress? The opposition has saved the country’s democracy and protected the Constitution. They have ensured participation of poor, EBC, SC, ST and OBC women. These people wanted to permanently end this. The opposition saved their political freedom.”

The reactions came after the government failed to pass the Constitution (131st Amendment) Act and the Delimitation Bill, which aimed to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

In his address, Prime Minister Modi accused Opposition parties of “committing a foeticide of the idea of women’s representation before the whole world.” He said the proposed legislation was aimed at ensuring balanced representation and strengthening the voice of states, but alleged that it was blocked by parties prioritising politics over national interest.

–IANS

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