Modi govt tried to undermine country’s federal structure, says Congress

National spokesperson and social media chairperson of the Congress party, Supriya Shrinate, on Tuesday alleged that in the name of the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Modi government attempted to undermine the country’s democracy, federal structure, and Constitution. However, she claimed that the Opposition dealt the government a crushing defeat in Parliament on the issue. She added that the Opposition will continue to foil the Centre’s attempts to weaken the country’s federal structure.

Speaking to the media in Dehradun, Supriya Shrinate said that the Women’s Reservation Act 2023 was deliberately linked to delimitation and an outdated census, without provision for OBCs. She alleged that the proposed law was being framed in a way that its implementation was impossible.

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“We are fully in favour of women’s reservation, but we will never accept a conspiracy to divide the country in the name of women,” the Congress leader said. She also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, “This is not a women’s reservation bill, but an attempt to alter the country’s political map and attack the Constitution of India.”

Raising concerns about women’s safety and dignity, she said the centre had proven to be a complete failure. Referring to cases such as the Unnao rape case, the Hathras rape case, protests by Indian women wrestlers, and the murder of Ankita Bhandari, she said that the Prime Minister remained silent instead of ensuring justice.

She further alleged that the central government’s real agenda was not women’s reservation, but gaining political dividends through delimitation.”

“Delimitation based on the 2011 Census is impractical and will hamper Indian democracy, posing a threat to the federal structure of the nation. Apart from this, equitable reservation will not be possible without a caste census and the inclusion of OBCs in the law,” she added.

Shrinate stressed that the BJP has a long history of opposing women’s reservation, while the Congress exhibited its commitment to women’s representation through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts.

Questioning the intent of the Modi government regarding the Women’s Reservation Bill, she said that neither an all-party meeting was called nor was there any discussion on the subject.

She added that the Congress and the Opposition, with people’s support, will continue to foil every attempt by the central government to weaken democracy and the federal structure of the country by “using women as a shield”.