Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Leads Women's Protest March Against Opposition

Chief Minister's Participation in Women's March

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in the 'Jan Aakrosh Mahila Padayatra' from his official residence to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in Lucknow. This march was organized in protest against the failure to pass the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Numerous cabinet ministers, senior leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and a significant number of female supporters joined the march.

Protest Against Women's Reservation Bill

The demonstration was linked to the proposed amendment of the Women's Reservation Act, which did not receive the necessary two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha. Major opposition parties, including Congress, the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), opposed and voted against the bill.

CM's Address and Public Sentiment

Before the march commenced, CM Yogi addressed the crowd, stating that this women-led march was a response to the anti-women stance of Congress, SP, TMC, and DMK. He remarked, "There is anger among the general public, especially women. Thousands of women have come to participate in this protest march."

March Progress and Government's Stance

The rally progressed from the Chief Minister's residence to the Assembly, with a large turnout of women, including female ministers from the state government. Through this march, the Chief Minister raised questions about the opposition's actions.

In a conversation with the media, Uttar Pradesh Minister Ashish Patel stated that the opposition has an unannounced agenda against women, aiming to deny them their rights. He added, "When the Nari Shakti Vandan Act was implemented in 2023, all parties came together without any disputes; however, when it was time to bring this bill to the ground, the opposition obstructed it. This reflects their hidden agenda against women's rights... We supported the Nari Shakti Vandan Act in 2023 and will continue to advocate for amendments that protect women's interests in the future."

Reactions from Officials

Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak commented, "Women are coming out in large numbers to express their displeasure. The way the opposition has blocked the Women's Reservation Bill is very unfortunate. Women are extremely upset about this. The Samajwadi Party and Congress will have to pay the price in the upcoming elections..."

Responding to the 'Jan Aakrosh Mahila Padayatra', Mayor Sushma Kharkwal stated that the Prime Minister is granting rights to women, yet the opposition is opposing this as well. She further stated, "For centuries, women have been demanding their rights, and if the Prime Minister is granting them, the opposition is still against it... Both the ruling party and the opposition have responsibilities towards the nation, and both should work for the country's benefit... The opposition's intentions are wrong..."