Assam BJP Leader Affirms Commitment to Women's Reservation Despite Lok Sabha Setback
BJP's Stance on Women's Reservation Bill
File image of Assam BJP President Dilip Saikia (Photo: @DilipSaikia4Bjp/X)
Guwahati, April 20: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address regarding the unsuccessful passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha, Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia expressed on Sunday that the NDA is dedicated to achieving a 33% reservation for women.
During a press briefing at Vajpayee Bhawan in Basistha Chariali, Saikia conveyed the disappointment of the BJP and its NDA partners over their failure to gather enough support for the constitutional amendment, yet he assured that the commitment to women’s political empowerment remains strong.
“PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the NDA coalition have assured Parliament that, regardless of the delimitation process not being finalized by 2029, we will guarantee 33% reservation in the upcoming 2029 Lok Sabha elections,” Saikia stated.
However, he did not provide details on how the government intends to reintroduce or modify the Bill to facilitate its implementation alongside delimitation.
In response to the Opposition's reaction to the Bill's failure, Saikia criticized the Congress and the INDIA alliance, accusing them of celebrating the defeat rather than supporting women's rights.
“The joy displayed by Congress and the INDIA alliance after the Bill’s failure felt akin to celebrating a victory over Pakistan. It seemed as if women are not a priority for them, but merely tools for political advantage,” he remarked.
He further asserted that the BJP's goal is to “uncover Congress’s anti-women policies and their negative stance on women’s empowerment,” claiming that the Opposition has persistently resisted significant initiatives aimed at national progress.
Saikia noted that the Women’s Reservation Bill was initially passed in September 2023 but could not be enacted immediately due to the impending 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“Nonetheless, PM Modi has committed to initiating and implementing the Bill as soon as possible, as it aims to enhance women’s empowerment, dignity, and involvement in politics,” he added.
Discussing the legislative context, Saikia mentioned that the last delimitation exercise in India occurred in 1972 based on the 1971 Census, alleging that the Congress government under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi effectively halted future delimitation efforts.
He emphasized the significance of the Bill, citing the historically low representation of women in Parliament, while highlighting that the highest number of women MPs were elected during Modi's administration.
“In the 1952 general elections, women's representation in Parliament was minimal. In 2019, 78 women representatives were elected, marking the highest in India's history. In 2024, 75 women representatives were elected, indicating that under PM Modi’s leadership, we have seen the greatest female representation in just a decade,” he stated.
Saikia remarked that women nationwide, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, are eagerly awaiting the Bill, regardless of caste, religion, or community, in hopes of justice and political empowerment.
He accused the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK, and other INDIA bloc partners of opposing the Bill by presenting “technical excuses,” particularly concerns that delimitation could diminish representation for southern states while increasing it for northern regions.
“They tried to mislead the public with unfounded excuses and claims. Opposing this Bill signifies not only opposition to PM Modi’s government but also a refusal to support 33% women’s representation in politics,” he asserted.