Congress Demands PM Modi Apologise to Women Across India
Opposition alleges delay tactics and political motives behind proposed amendments to reservation law
New Delhi: The Indian National Congress on Friday launched a sharp attack on the government led by Narendra Modi, accusing it of reversing its stand on the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 to divert attention from governance failures and foreign policy challenges.
The opposition party asserted that the Prime Minister should apologise to women across the country for not agreeing earlier to implement the reservation law from the 2024 general elections. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the party had consistently pushed for immediate rollout after Parliament passed the legislation unanimously in 2023.
He alleged that the government initially tied the implementation to the completion of the Census and delimitation processes both of which have been delayed—only to now reconsider its stance. According to Ramesh, the shift comes amid political pressure and upcoming electoral challenges, particularly in key states.
The Congress further claimed that the government is now downplaying the need for a Census-based delimitation despite earlier insisting on it, calling the move inconsistent and politically driven. It also criticised the ruling party for lacking a broader narrative on pressing regional issues.
The remarks came after Prime Minister Modi emphasised that proposed amendments to the Women’s Reservation Act reflect the aspirations of millions of women and urged lawmakers to support the initiative. In a recent article, he described the move as a step towards strengthening democratic values and gender equality.
A special sitting of Parliament is scheduled from April 16 to 18 to deliberate on amendments aimed at enabling implementation of the reservation from the 2029 general elections. The current framework links the rollout to delimitation based on Census data, which could otherwise delay enforcement until 2034.
The proposed changes may also expand the strength of the Lok Sabha and introduce proportional reservation for women, including within seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, marking a significant shift in India’s electoral structure.
