Bhopal: The Congress state unit on Sunday took to the streets, accusing the governing BJP of delaying the implementation of women's reservation despite Parliament clearing a Bill in 2023.
Protest March Led by Senior Leaders
Senior leaders, led by party state unit chief Jitu Patwari and Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, joined a foot march through the city to protest what they called the BJP's "anti-women policies" and its failure to act on the 2023 Women's Reservation Bill. The march began at Atal Path, wound through Tin Shed and New Market, and concluded at Roshanpura Square.
Demands for Immediate Action
Addressing supporters, Patwari said the BJP should stop misleading the people and immediately take steps to implement the 2023 Women's Reservation Bill, which provides for one-third of the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats to be reserved for women. "A resolution to this effect should be unanimously adopted in the state assembly during the special session so that people of the country get a clear message on the issue," he stated.
Singhar accused the BJP and the RSS of "unnecessarily politicising" the issue of women's reservation while simultaneously not granting reservation to women in the Lok Sabha. He announced that the Congress would table a resolution to provide immediate reservation to women in Parliament and state legislative bodies on the existing seats, and press for its unanimous adoption in the House, forwarding it to the state government for further action.
State Mahila Congress chief Rina Baurasi emphasised that there should be no delay in providing reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures, and the Bill passed by Parliament in 2023 should be implemented without further hesitation.
