KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL — Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has strongly criticised opposition parties over the Women’s Reservation Bill, calling the developments a “black day” for reformist ideas in India.
Speaking in Kolkata, Fadnavis alleged that several opposition parties, including those led by Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee, came together to block the bill, preventing it from securing the required two-thirds majority in Parliament.
He claimed that around 230 votes were cast against the bill, which led to the amendment not being passed. According to him, this outcome reflects what he described as the opposition’s “anti-women stance.”
Fadnavis expressed surprise at the opposition from leaders like Mamata Banerjee, stating that women voters in states such as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu would respond politically to the decision. He asserted that the move has exposed the opposition’s position on women’s empowerment.
The Chief Minister further said that the struggle for women’s reservation will continue, indicating that efforts to secure 33% representation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will be intensified in the coming days.
In a sharp remark, Fadnavis also targeted opposition leaders, alleging that they were celebrating the setback to the bill, and accused them of pushing the country back toward a patriarchal system by opposing the legislation.
The Women’s Reservation Bill has emerged as a major political flashpoint, with the ruling alliance accusing opposition parties of obstructing a long-pending reform, while opposition leaders have raised concerns over its implementation and linkage with delimitation.
Devendra Fadnavis’s remarks highlight the deepening political divide over the Women’s Reservation Bill, as the issue continues to trigger intense debate across parties and states.
