Womens Reservation Act row: BJP Mumbai accuses Congress of delaying womens quota, stages Dahisar protest

BJP Mumbai accused the Congress and other opposition parties of resisting womens empowerment by opposing the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, also known as the Womens Reservation Act. The party said objections linked to delimitation could delay implementation, and held a protest in Dahisar led by BJP MLA Manisha Chaudhary, with remarks from MLA Ameet Satam.

The BJP’s Mumbai unit on Saturday held a protest in the city over the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. The party accused the Congress and other opposition parties of resisting women’s empowerment. BJP Mumbai said opposition to the Women’s Reservation Act showed reluctance to give women more power. The party also alleged attempts to delay steps linked to delimitation.

The protest came a day after a bill to implement 33 per cent women’s reservation in legislatures in 2029 was defeated in the Lok Sabha. BJP Mumbai chief and MLA Ameet Satam criticised the Congress leadership in a post on X. Ameet Satam alleged the Congress was uneasy about women gaining a bigger role in decisions.

Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam protest and allegations

In the X post, Ameet Satam wrote: "The Gandhi family, which benefited from key constitutional posts for so many years, cannot accept other women getting empowered.\" Ameet Satam added: \"Their discomfort was visible when women from humble backgrounds started participating in decision-making processes,\". BJP Mumbai linked these remarks to the party’s charge that the Congress opposed empowerment.

BJP MLA Manisha Chaudhary led a protest in Dahisar with party workers. Protesters raised slogans against the Congress and other opposition leaders. Women protesters also blackened flex banners carrying photographs of Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal, Sharad Pawar, and Uddhav Thackeray. The banners identified Rahul Gandhi as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and claims of delay

In a statement, the BJP’s city unit accused the Congress of using the women’s reservation bill as a political pawn for 27 years. BJP Mumbai alleged delays, obstruction, and weak political will despite long periods in power. The party said opposing delimitation linked to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam would block implementation before the 2029 general elections.

The BJP also said the pattern dated back to 1996, when the bill was introduced. The party alleged that during the United Front government led by H D Deve Gowda, the Congress sought a Joint Parliamentary Committee review. BJP Mumbai said this slowed progress at a key moment. It also claimed the Congress later withdrew support, causing the government to fall.

For the period from 1998 to 2004 under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the BJP claimed it tried repeatedly to pass the bill. It said the bill was introduced twice in 2003. BJP Mumbai alleged proceedings were stalled by disruptions from MPs of the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and Bahujan Samaj Party.

The city unit also claimed copies of the bill were allegedly torn in Parliament during those disruptions. It further alleged the Congress, despite being a major national party, did not build consensus. BJP Mumbai said the Congress failed to push the bill through at the time. The party argued this allowed repeated disruptions to succeed.

Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and UPA era record

The BJP further alleged that between 2004 and 2014, the UPA included the women’s reservation bill in the Common Minimum Programme. It said repeated promises still did not lead to passage in the Lok Sabha. The BJP noted the bill passed the Rajya Sabha in 2010 with a two-thirds majority. It alleged the Congress did not advance it in the Lok Sabha.

BJP Mumbai said the Congress held back because of opposition from allies like the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal. It claimed the coalition’s stability was treated as a higher priority. The BJP said this came at the cost of women’s rightful representation. The party maintained that opposition to delimitation still risked delaying the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

With inputs from PTI