‘Oppn insulted women’: Tripura CM on reservation amendment

Agartala, April 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday claimed that the opposition insulted women for their own political benefit and maintained that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance does not support women’s empowerment, instead prioritising self-centred politics.

The Chief Minister said that an amendment to the Women’s Reservation Bill could not be passed in Parliament due to opposition resistance on April 17.

He described the amendment as crucial for advancing women’s empowerment in India, adding that it has the potential to reshape the future of politics and contribute significantly to national development.

He said that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, or the opposition, has once again insulted women and deprived the entire nation because they are desperate to protect their political ground, adding that they only believe in self-centred politics, while addressing a press conference at the state Bharatiya Janata Party office in Agartala.

Highlighting the significance of the legislation, he referred to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, or Women’s Reservation Bill 2023, as a revolutionary milestone in the history of Indian democracy.

The Chief Minister explained that the primary objective of the Act is to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

He said that this is a historic law to guarantee that women receive one-third representation in the Lok Sabha and Assemblies, adding that it not only ensures women’s rights but also paves the way for women-led development in India.

Saha noted that the bill was passed during a special session held in the new Parliament building in September 2023.

He emphasised that the legislation aims to eliminate gender inequality within India’s political framework and represents a major step taken by the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister PM Modi.

Saha further stated that the demand for women’s reservation has been ongoing for nearly three decades.

The bill was first introduced in 1996 during the tenure of former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, but failed to pass.

Multiple attempts were made between 1998 and 2003 under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, yet the bill continued to face obstacles.

He said that in 2010, it was passed in the Rajya Sabha during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but it could not be cleared in the Lok Sabha, adding that at that time, parties like the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal opposed it. He said that finally, in 2023, under Prime Minister PM Modi, the bill was passed with a huge majority in both Houses.

Explaining the provisions of the Act, the Chief Minister said it mandates 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, state Assemblies and the Delhi Assembly.

It also includes reservations within Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes reserved constituencies, he said, adding that seats will be rotated after each election through the delimitation process to ensure wider representation of women across constituencies.

He pointed out that the law has a validity of 15 years, which can be extended by Parliament if deemed necessary.

However, the provisions apply only to directly elected members and do not extend to the Rajya Sabha.

Saha also highlighted challenges that have emerged even after the bill’s passage in 2023.

He said the law cannot be implemented until the completion of the census, which is currently underway, potentially delaying its enforcement by several years.

He said that, therefore, the amendment was brought again in April 2026 so that it could be implemented in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. He added that there was a detailed discussion in the Lok Sabha, and the opposition also participated; however, they ultimately did not allow the bill to be passed.

The Chief Minister further alleged that the Congress has historically worked against women’s interests, noting that women constitute 55 per cent of the country’s population and have been deprived due to the delay in implementation.

He said that their government and Prime Minister PM Modi have consistently worked for the welfare of women.

He added that while the opposition may have succeeded temporarily in blocking the amendment, the Prime Minister has the support and blessings of crores of women. He said he strongly condemns the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, including Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist), and believes they will face a strong response.

The women leaders -- Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma, Member of Legislative Assembly Mina Rani Sarkar and Member of Legislative Assembly Antara Dev Sarkar -- were also present at the press conference.

Source: IANS