Rijiju said the opposition would have to face the anger of the women of India, warning that the bill’s failure would carry long-term political consequences.
File Photo: X/@KirenRijiju
A high-stakes political showdown over women’s representation ended in deadlock in the Lok Sabha yesterday, with the Women’s Reservation Bill failing to secure the required two-thirds majority. The setback triggered sharp reactions from the government, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accusing the Congress and opposition parties of derailing a crucial reform and “crushing” the rights of women.
Addressing a press conference soon after the House was adjourned sine die, Rijiju said the bill’s failure marked a “huge loss” for women across the country. He alleged that opposition parties not only blocked the legislation but were also “celebrating women’s defeat,” which he said reflected an anti-women mindset.
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The proposed law, widely known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, sought to reserve one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women, a long-pending demand aimed at improving gender representation in legislatures. Rijiju acknowledged that while the government commanded a simple majority, it could not muster the two-thirds support required to pass a constitutional amendment. “We had the numbers, but not the special majority needed. That is why the bill could not be passed,” he said.
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#WATCH | Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says, “We are all saddened by the fact that, driven by political motives and a mindset of denying women rights, the Congress Party and the opposition, with a blatant majority, prevented the passage of the Constitutional… pic.twitter.com/eGadPzEz0h
— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2026
Rijiju warned that the opposition would have to face the anger of the women of India, warning that the bill’s failure would carry long-term political consequences. He said, “The Congress party and the opposition will have to face the anger of the women of India. I had said it yesterday itself – this black mark has been stamped on the Congress and its allies, and they will not be able to wash it off for the rest of their lives…”
Taking aim at Rahul Gandhi, Rijiju questioned remarks attributed to him on the bill’s constitutional validity, saying it was difficult to understand how granting rights to women could be termed undemocratic. He said, “If Rahul Gandhi says that giving reservation to women is unconstitutional and undemocratic, then someone should make Rahul Gandhi understand how it can be undemocratic to give rights to women. I can’t reply on what kind of thinking he has.”
Earlier today, Rijiju shared a video of protests from Sikkim, pointing to public backing for the Women’s Reservation Bill after it failed to pass in the Lok Sabha. The Minister used the footage to criticize the Opposition, accusing it of ignoring widespread support for the measure. In a post on social media, Rijiju wrote that the visuals from the “small and beautiful state of Sikkim” reflected strong demand for reservations for women in Parliament and state assemblies, and issued a warning to the Congress party.
A strong warning to Congress Party. Look at the massive support for the Women’s reservation in Parliament and Assemblies from a small and a beautiful state of Sikkim !! https://t.co/n06UDpta3b pic.twitter.com/qMnJqrwqgB
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) April 18, 2026
In a separate message, he reiterated the government’s commitment to the proposed reform, saying efforts to advance women’s representation would continue. He also accused opposition parties of not supporting a “historic” bill aimed at honouring women, and said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi would persist in working towards women’s empowerment.
The controversy unfolded on the final day of Parliament’s Budget Session, which Rijiju called “very productive” overall. He noted that the Union Budget was passed smoothly and several other government bills cleared both Houses.
The session was extended by three days, April 16 to 18 to take up key legislative business, including the Women’s Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Amendment Bill.
Rijiju also highlighted a major internal security milestone, saying the government’s efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to curb Left-Wing Extremism were “almost fulfilled,” a point elaborated during debates by Home Minister Amit Shah.
#WATCH | Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says, “The Budget Session has been concluded officially. It was a very productive Budget Session… The Union Budget was passed very successfully. Then, in the second session, the Prime Minister gave a statement on the… pic.twitter.com/ypsr4QN3Rp
— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2026
Soon after proceedings ended, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held a meeting with senior leaders in his office. Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah, Rijiju, and Congress leaders, including Kumari Selja and K. C. Venugopal, were present.
Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, Leaders of Parties and Members of Parliament met Lok Sabha Speaker Shri @ombirlakota after conclusion of the Budget Session, 2026. @loksabhaspeaker @sansad_tv pic.twitter.com/ipEmtV6eea
— LOK SABHA (@LokSabhaSectt) April 18, 2026
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