PM Modi Slams Opposition After Women’s Reservation Bill Fails, Calls Defeat a ‘Blow to Nari Shakti’
New Delhi, April 18: Hours after the special session of Parliament concluded without the passage of the Women’s Reservation Amendment Bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Saturday, expressing deep disappointment over the Bill’s defeat in the Lok Sabha and sharply criticising Opposition parties for blocking what he described as a historic step towards gender equality.
Women of India will never forgive the opposition, lamented the PM with sadness in his tone.
Speaking in an emotional tone, the Prime Minister said the failure to secure the required two-thirds majority had dashed the hopes of millions of women across the country who had been waiting for greater representation in legislative bodies.
He even went to the extent of seeking forgiveness from women, saying the government had made sincere efforts to push forward a reform that aimed to transform the political landscape in favour of women’s empowerment.
Modi accused several Opposition parties of putting political interests above the aspirations of women, alleging that the move to oppose the Bill reflected what he termed as “selfish politics”.
He used strong words, describing the defeat of the amendment as equivalent to “bhroon hatya” — a symbolic reference to female foeticide — suggesting that the Opposition had effectively stifled the progress of women before it could take shape.
“Every citizen of the country has witnessed how the dreams of our women have been crushed,” the Prime Minister said, asserting that the legislation was designed to ensure balanced participation of women in governance across regions — north, south, east, and west alike.
He specifically named parties such as Congress, DMK, TMC, and Samajwadi Party, alleging that their opposition to the Bill had denied women a long-awaited opportunity to secure constitutionally guaranteed political representation.
Modi also said he had expected the Congress to “correct its past mistakes” by supporting the legislation, but claimed the party had failed to rise above political calculations.
During his address, the Prime Minister rejected allegations that the Bill could create regional imbalances through delimitation of constituencies.
He accused Opposition leaders of spreading misinformation about a possible north-south divide, calling such claims politically motivated attempts to derail reforms.
Aiming at what he described as dynastic politics, Modi argued that family-run parties often hesitate to promote structural reforms that empower women, as greater representation could challenge entrenched political interests.
“A woman may forget many things, but she does not forget an insult,” he remarked, suggesting that women voters would remember the Opposition’s stand when the time comes to deliver their verdict.
Reiterating that the Women’s Reservation Bill remains a priority for his government, the Prime Minister assured citizens that efforts to secure political empowerment for women would continue despite the setback.
The Women’s Reservation Amendment Bill — often referred to as the Nari Shakti Vandan initiative — seeks to reserve 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, a reform long debated across party lines but yet to fully materialise.
Political observers note that the sharp exchange over the Bill has once again highlighted the deep divisions between the ruling alliance and Opposition parties, particularly on issues of electoral reform and representation.
While the government has framed the Bill as a milestone for gender equality, Opposition leaders have raised concerns about its timing and implementation framework.
With the issue now moving beyond Parliament into the larger political arena, the debate over women’s representation is likely to remain a central theme in upcoming political discourse.
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