- Women’s reservation setback sparks sharp attack from Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Modi says Opposition blocked 33 per cent women’s quota, apologises to women of India
New Delhi, 18-04-2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a strong attack on Opposition parties, accusing them of blocking the proposed legislation aimed at implementing 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures and saying their actions had deeply disappointed women across the country. His remarks came a day after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha.
Addressing the nation, the Prime Minister said the dreams and aspirations of women had been severely hurt by the bill’s defeat despite what he described as the government’s sincere efforts to secure its passage. He also sought forgiveness from the women of the country, saying the setback had halted an important step towards political empowerment.
Modi alleged that parties such as the Congress, the DMK, the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party had placed political interests above women’s advancement and had prevented the passage of a measure that, according to him, was intended to give women greater representation without taking away anyone’s rights. He said the proposed amendment was aimed at ensuring balanced empowerment across different regions of the country.
The Prime Minister further claimed that the Opposition had insulted both the Constitution and the spirit of women’s empowerment by defeating the bill in Parliament. He said women would remember this moment as a missed historic opportunity and accused family-led parties of resisting reforms that could weaken their political grip.
At the same time, the bill’s defeat has triggered a wider political debate, with Opposition leaders arguing that they were not against women’s reservation itself but against linking it to delimitation and seat redistribution. Several reports said regional parties, especially from the south, maintained that the government’s approach complicated what could otherwise have been a broadly supported measure.
The bill reportedly received 298 votes in favour and 230 against in the Lok Sabha, falling short of the 352 votes required for passage as a constitutional amendment. The development has since intensified political confrontation, with the government signalling that it may continue efforts to push women’s reservation in future.