Mumbai, April 17 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, expressed strong disapproval of the Opposition on Friday, asserting that their opposition to the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill has unveiled their true priorities.

In a fervent statement shared on the social media platform X, Fadnavis highlighted that the Opposition squandered a significant chance to champion women's empowerment.

“It is an absolute disgrace. The entire nation witnessed the glaring hypocrisy of the Opposition today. They had a historic opportunity to align with our #NariShakti, yet they fell short. For them, empowering women is merely a matter of rhetoric and slogans. They have chosen politics over progress,” he articulated.

He emphasized that the Opposition's resistance to the Bill has unveiled its true priorities, affirming that women across India are closely observing their actions.

“The women of India are watching -- and they will not forget this,” he warned.

Fadnavis reiterated that for his party, women's empowerment extends beyond mere words; it is a steadfast commitment.

“Starting tomorrow, we will take to the streets to ensure every right, every justice, and every honor for our Nari Shakti,” he declared.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also condemned the Opposition, labeling the situation as “extremely unfortunate.”

He accused the Congress and its allies in the INDIA bloc of adopting an anti-women stance to obstruct the representation of women from disadvantaged communities in Parliament.

Shinde stated that this incident would be remembered as a “black day” and contended that the Opposition's stance has revealed their true approach towards women's empowerment.

BJP MP and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan criticized the Opposition's “stubborn and unjustified” position, claiming it hindered a constructive initiative.

He alleged that despite the Centre addressing the concerns raised, the Opposition prioritized political interests over those of women.

“Guaranteeing 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies is more than just a political agenda for us; it is a steadfast commitment,” he stated, expressing optimism that this goal will ultimately be achieved.

In contrast, Harshwardhan Sapkal, president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, defended the Opposition's position, claiming that the Centre is trying to connect women’s reservation with delimitation to postpone its implementation.

He asserted that the Congress has consistently demanded the implementation of this reservation for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections and opposed any attempts to alter the federal structure under the pretext of reforms.

Sapkal insisted that the Opposition's unity in the Lok Sabha has successfully obstructed changes that could jeopardize the constitutional and electoral framework.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut described the developments as a setback for the government, alleging that the Bill was a political maneuver that failed in Parliament.

Maharashtra Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar also took aim at the BJP, insisting that the government must clarify the implementation of women’s reservation rather than making political statements.