Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a swipe at the Congress (he did not name the party) when it attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party for “delays” in introducing a landmark bill on women’s reservations, which was tabled in Parliament by the Union Law Minister. today The Congress has accused the BJP of delaying the bill’s release before next year’s elections. Shah praised the Modi government’s “unwavering commitment” and mocked the Congress for “friendly parties (standing in the way)”. The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010 (when Manmohan Singh was prime minister) but failed in the Lok Sabha as a hurdle after opposition from the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party. Both were (and are) allies of the Congress. “Across India, people are rejoicing over the introduction of ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ in Parliament. It shows the Modi government’s unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment. Unfortunately, the opposition cannot digest it,” the Union minister tweeted to. X. (formerly Twitter).
He also criticized the “sign” of the Congress on the issue. “What is more shameful… The Congress never got serious about non-reservation for women. They either let the laws lapse or friendly parties prevented the introduction of the bill. Their double standards are never hidden, no matter what tricks they try to credit.
The Congress’ attacks were ready this morning as former leader Sonia Gandhi told reporters: “This (bill) is ours… Apna hai.” Several Congress leaders have since tried to point out that the bill was introduced in Parliament 13 years ago by the United Progressive Alliance government led by the party. The same was claimed by Kapil Sibal, who resigned from the party in difficult circumstances last May. “They (BJP) want a political advantage (in 2024 elections) and want to tell women that they have done a historic thing. They should have done it in 2014 (when PM Modi first came to power).
