NEW DELHI — BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his address to the nation, while accusing the opposition of deliberately obstructing the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
Speaking in Delhi, Tiwari recalled the moment the bill was introduced in Parliament, saying that the Prime Minister appeared confident that it would pass, given that a majority of opposition MPs had supported a similar measure in 2023. He отметил that there was an expectation of consensus, as the issue of women’s reservation had previously seen near-unanimous backing across party lines.
However, Tiwari alleged that the opposition’s stance changed due to political motives, particularly pointing towards the Congress party. He claimed that Congress influenced its allies to oppose the bill, even though many MPs from other opposition parties were inclined to support it.
Addressing concerns around delimitation, Tiwari said that the process would not have delayed the implementation of the bill significantly, explaining that even with delimitation, the provisions could have been brought into effect within two to two-and-a-half years. According to him, this argument was being used unnecessarily to create confusion and block progress.
He further stated that the opposition’s intentions were “flawed”, alleging that political calculations were placed above the goal of women’s empowerment. Tiwari подчеркнул that the bill represented a historic opportunity to ensure 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, and its rejection has delayed a long-awaited reform.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s address, Tiwari said that women across the country would have closely followed the speech, and expressed confidence that the message of empowerment and commitment would resonate with them. He added that the government remains determined to advance women’s participation in governance.
The BJP leader also expressed optimism about the future, stating that even if the bill did not pass now, the obstacles to women’s empowerment would eventually be overcome. He подчеркнул that such reforms are inevitable and will continue to be pursued.
The remarks come amid an ongoing political debate following the failure of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, with both the ruling alliance and opposition accusing each other of undermining women’s rights.
Political observers note that the issue has become a major point of contention, with parties using it to shape public perception ahead of future elections.
Manoj Tiwari’s statement reflects the BJP’s position that the bill’s failure was due to opposition politics, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to advancing women’s representation in India’s democratic institutions.
