Political Turmoil Erupts Over Women's Reservation in UP Assembly
Political Chaos in Uttar Pradesh Assembly
Lucknow: A special session convened in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Thursday regarding the issue of women's reservation witnessed intense political clashes. Both the ruling party and the opposition exchanged sharp accusations, leading to loud slogans echoing throughout the assembly premises. Prior to the session, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath targeted the Samajwadi Party, claiming that Congress had been eradicated from Uttar Pradesh due to its 'curse' on women, and suggested that the Samajwadi Party was on a similar path to extinction.
CM Yogi Labels SP as 'Innately Anti-Women'
The Chief Minister described the Samajwadi Party as 'innately anti-women', asserting that incidents of violence against women had surged during its governance. He referenced an old slogan that once circulated: 'Look, the SP, the daughter is scared.' BJP's female legislators arrived at the assembly with banners and posters advocating for women's reservation while opposing Congress and the Samajwadi Party. Many male BJP legislators also joined them in support, resulting in continuous chanting within the assembly.
SP Legislators Also Support Women's Reservation
Interestingly, Samajwadi Party legislators also brought banners supporting women's reservation but labeled the BJP as anti-women. While both parties rallied for women's reservation, they simultaneously accused each other of being against women's rights. SP legislators protested outside the assembly demanding 33% reservation for women, gathering near the statue of Chaudhary Charan Singh and chanting slogans. They insisted that the reservation should be implemented as outlined in the bill passed by Parliament in 2023.
'BJP Has No Right to Speak on Women's Issues'
SP legislators accused the BJP of misleading the public and attempting to manipulate constituency boundaries through this bill. They emphasized that leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia and Mulayam Singh Yadav have always championed women's rights. In response to CM Yogi's statements, SP President Akhilesh Yadav retaliated, asserting that with numerous cases involving BJP leaders surfacing, the party has no authority to address women's issues.