Prime Minister Modi Faces Criticism Over Women's Reservation Bill Defeat
The recent defeat of the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha has ignited a political firestorm, with Prime Minister Modi accusing the opposition of promoting female foeticide. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has retaliated, labeling Modi's remarks as desperate and politically motivated. He argues that the bill is being misrepresented and emphasizes Congress's long-standing support for women's empowerment. Kharge's critique highlights the government's priorities and calls for immediate action to ensure women's representation in the Lok Sabha. This ongoing political drama raises questions about the true intentions behind the proposed legislation and its implications for women's rights in India.
Apr 20, 2026, 14:19 IST
Political Tensions Rise After Women's Reservation Bill Fails
Following the defeat of the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the opposition of promoting female foeticide. In response, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge labeled the Prime Minister as desperate. Kharge asserted that the bill was being misrepresented as a measure for women's reservation for political gain, emphasizing that it does not empower women.
Kharge criticized Modi for transforming his official address to the nation into a political speech filled with mudslinging and blatant falsehoods, highlighting that the Prime Minister has achieved nothing significant in the past twelve years. He pointed out that the code of conduct is already in effect, making it evident how Modi misused government machinery to attack his opponents, which he deemed a severe insult to democracy and the Constitution of India.
He noted that Modi mentioned Congress 59 times while only briefly referencing women, revealing the government's priorities. According to Kharge, women are not a priority for the BJP, but they are for Congress, which stands on the right side of history. He reminded that Congress was the party that passed the Women's Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 to prevent its repeal, while the BJP failed to pass it in the Lok Sabha. In 2023, Congress supported another bill proposed by the BJP.
Kharge emphasized that the bill is still in effect, having been notified on April 16 during discussions on constitutional amendment bills related to Lok Sabha delimitation. He criticized the BJP for taking three years to notify their bill, which he argued reflects their lack of commitment to women's empowerment. He urged Modi to stop lying to the nation and to implement 33% reservation for women in the current 543 Lok Sabha seats, ensuring they receive their rightful representation.
He further stated that the delimitation bills, which consist of three constitutional amendment bills, should not be conflated with the Women's Reservation Bill. Kharge called for an end to the false narrative that the amendment to the Women's Reservation Bill—known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Act—was related to delimitation. He clarified that it was purely a delimitation bill aimed at creating further divisions and altering the electoral landscape to benefit only the BJP.