BJP MPs Stage Protest at Rahul Gandhi's Residence Over Failed Women's Reservation Bill
In a dramatic political showdown, BJP Lok Sabha MPs Hema Malini, Bansuri Swaraj, and Kamaljeet Sehrawat spearheaded a protest march on Saturday, targeting the residence of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. This action followed the collapse of the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill on women's reservation in the House, with the Congress-led INDIA bloc refusing to endorse the delimitation process linked to the legislation.
Political Fallout and Accusations
The BJP has vehemently criticized the Congress's stance, branding it as "anti-women" after 230 opposition MPs voted against the bill, which required a two-thirds majority for passage. In contrast, 298 members of the ruling NDA coalition supported the measure. Protesters raised slogans and displayed placards, amplifying the political discord.
The Congress, however, clarified its position, stating that it does not oppose women's reservation in principle but objects to the delimitation exercise tied to the bill. This exercise proposes increasing the Lok Sabha's strength from the current 543 seats to 850 seats. The grand old party and its allies have alleged that this move is designed to "weaken" the representation of southern states in the Lower House of Parliament.
Voices from the Protest
Hema Malini, the actor-turned-politician, expressed deep frustration, saying, "They (the opposition) did not let the Bill be passed, so we are protesting here. Women across the country are part of this campaign. Despite all our efforts yesterday, they blocked the Bill... We are deeply upset. Women are protesting nationwide."
Bansuri Swaraj, one of the BJP's seven Lok Sabha MPs from Delhi, where the party holds all constituencies, accused Gandhi and the INDIA bloc of "betraying" women. She added, "The entire opposition, especially LoP Gandhi, betrayed the women of this country yesterday. They backstabbed women. They want women's role to be limited to polling booths. When it came to political representation, they chose their own interests and now face the anger of women."
Kamaljeet Sehrawat, another BJP MP from Delhi, emphasized that the government aimed to implement the Women's Reservation Bill on a "priority" basis, but the INDIA bloc voted to defeat the legislation.
Detention and Upcoming Address
The protesting MPs were subsequently detained by the Delhi Police, adding to the day's tensions. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the nation at 8:30 pm, where he is expected to comment on the failure of the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill and target the opposition over its stand.
This incident highlights the ongoing political battles in India, with women's representation becoming a central issue in parliamentary debates and public protests.
