New Delhi [India], April 28 : Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva on Tuesday expressed stern criticism over the defeat of the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill to implement Women's Reservation in Lok Sabha, reiterating the allegation of "anti-women" against opposition.
The Delhi Assembly, earlier in the day, convened a special session on the issue of Women's Reservation. Following the session, BJP held a procession in support of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in the national capital.
Speaking with the media from the procession, Sachdeva reflected on the disappointment of women over the defeat of the bill and accused opposition parties of "disrespecting women."
"Women's reservation bill is a fight for the respect of our mothers and sisters... All the sisters are protesting against the way the Congress and other opposition parties have opposed it... A Rajya Sabha MP (Swati Maliwal) who herself is a woman is telling how anti-women Arvind Kejriwal is... All of them have disrespected women," he said.
"The Nari Shakti Vandan Act was the right of all women, which the opposition parties have tried to stop... Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the sisters will take their rights and teach the opposition parties a lesson...," he added.
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwa, who recently quit AAP and merged with BJP, lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the move to implement Women's Reservation in Parliament and called the opposition's action, "a matter of shame."
"Today, women in our country are progressing in every field, but it is a matter of shame that even today, women constitute only 14.4% of the population in the country's Parliament... Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, a very good law was brought in the Parliament, a law to provide 33% reservation to women was brought and the opposition rejected it... This is a matter of shame. I am completely against this action of the opposition," she said.
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj also slammed the opposition for pressing the "red button" during the voting in Lok Sabha.
"At the time of fulfilling their promise, the opposition pressed the red button... Naturally, they have become the recipients of the anger of the women of the country," she said.
BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat called Women's Reservation "our right" and affirmed that the government will implement the reservation.
"The government of India, to implement the Women's Reservation Bill, 2023 as soon as possible, made many efforts... This reservation is our right," she said.
Meanwhile, regarding the session, assembly speaker Vijender Gupta said that a censure motion, brought by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, was passed condemning the defeat of the bill in the Lok Sabha. Informing that the session lasted approximately 5 hours, he stressed the need for a thorough discussion on the matter.
"Today, a one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly was convened to discuss the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, which failed to pass in the Lok Sabha. The session passed a censure motion condemning this failure. Over 25 members participated in the discussion, which lasted approximately 5 hours... Although the opposition expressed dissatisfaction, the session proceeded in a timely manner. 7 opposition members were listed to speak, and they presented their views. However, a more thorough discussion on the issue might have provided greater justice to the subject," he told ANI.
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra expressed gratitude towards the steps taken by the Modi government in the path to implement women's reservation.
"The Assembly held serious discussions on the CM's proposal and a censure motion was passed unanimously... The Assembly also expressed gratitude towards the schemes and steps taken by the PM for women empowerment," he said.
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa condemned the opposition parties for attempting to "undermine women's rights." He added that AAP leader Atishi was not allowed to speak in the assembly during the discussion.
"Today, the Delhi Assembly passed a censure motion against the defeat of Nari Shakti Vandana Act, in the Lok Sabha by opposition parties, particularly the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, and the Samajwadi Party. All MLAs and the Chief Minister expressed deep regret at how the Congress party attempted to undermine women's rights... We don't know what pressure was exerted, but Atishi ji refrained from speaking on this issue today," he said.
BJP MLA Shikha Rai said that the special session involved raw discussion on the importance of women reservation and affirmed that the reservation will be done under PM Modi's leadership.
"The Chief Minister presented a censure motion against the opposition for defeating the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam... The session saw discussions on the importance of the bill for women's empowerment and structural change in the country... The opposition's actions have caused disappointment and anger among women across the nation. Despite the defeat, women's political rights will eventually be secured under PM Modi's leadership," she said.
BJP MLA Harish Khurana said that the opposition prevented the women's reservation by voting against it, "reflecting a narrow mindset towards women's rights."
"Prime Minister Modi's vision was to ensure women's rights and increase their reservation to 33% by raising the seats to 850 by the 2029 elections. The opposition prevented this with a two-thirds majority. In response, a censure motion was brought by CM Rekha, leading to extensive discussion... The opposition parties demonstrated their stance against the bill, reflecting a narrow mindset towards women's rights," he said.
BJP MLA Tarvinder Singh Marwah called AAP "anti-women," questioning them over the lack of interest in the Women's Reservation Bill. He affirmed that the PM has "vowed to pass this bill."
"AAP is anti-women, because when the bill was being passed in the House, they just walked out and did not show any interest, the LoP did not speak a word on this, then who are anti-women ultimately?... They should have respected the Bill... What happened in the Parliament on April 17th will be marked as a black day... The Prime Minister has vowed to pass this bill," he said.