Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has called out Rahul Gandhi regarding the Congress party’s position on women’s reservation. He highlighted the case of Priyanka Gandhi, questioning why she has not been given a prominent role. Fadnavis accused the Congress of hypocrisy, noting that the party previously supported a reservation bill linked to a constitutional amendment but has since changed its stance.
Priyanka Gandhi, who is the general secretary of the All India Congress Committee or AICC, is also the Member of Parliament from Kerala’s Wayanad.
The Maharashtra Chief Minister’s questions come amid the Congress’s fresh outreach to women and students ahead of next year’s assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. The government’s push for the amended women’s reservation bill was blocked by a united opposition in parliament during the second half of the budget session. Accusing the Congress of double standards on women’s reservation, Fadnavis said the party had supported the 2023 law providing 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, despite the legislation containing provisions linked to delimitation. “The Bill was introduced in 2023. My question is – when you voted for the 2023 law, did it contain provisions for delimitation or not?
Fadnavis said. He also accused the Congress of secretly opposing women’s reservation and said Rahul Gandhi will be responsible if the implementation of the reservation is delayed. “If this Bill is not passed, will women be able to get 33% reservation in 2029?” he asked. Accusing Rahul Gandhi of being the “killer” of women’s reservation, he said the BJP would ensure that women get 33 per cent reservation by 2029. Most opposition parties, including the Congress said while they support reservation for women, they had huge objections to tying it up with a constitutional amendment for delimitation, which was among the three-bill-package presented in parliament.
