Hyderabad, April 19 (NationPress) Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour & Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, on Sunday criticized the Congress and the INDIA bloc for allegedly betraying not only the women of India but also the entire southern region. Speaking at a press conference, she stated that April 17 would be remembered as a dark day in the history of Indian women.

Karandlaje asserted that the NDA government introduced the Delimitation Bill along with the long-awaited 33 percent reservation Bill for women to protect the interests of southern states.

She emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aim was to ensure justice for southern states, which have been effective in implementing population control measures, so they do not suffer injustice in future census outcomes.

She remarked that the failure of these Bills in Parliament was celebrated by the Congress and the INDIA alliance as if it were a festival, showcasing their indifference to national interests. Their celebrations were indicative of a potential conspiracy to fragment the nation along North-South lines.

Karandlaje pointed out that the Opposition's unwavering hostility towards the Modi government has overshadowed the importance of the Women’s Reservation Bill and the legitimate demands of women. In their quest for power, the Congress and its allies have once again postponed women’s rightful representation in legislative positions.

She expressed her disappointment that despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressing Parliament with the intention of ensuring justice for South India—proposing a 50% increase in parliamentary seats for each state and offering to introduce a new Bill if granted just one hour—the Congress and INDIA bloc rejected this proposal.

Karandlaje accused them of prioritizing their political ambitions over regional unity, which could further deepen regional divides in the future.

According to her, the INDIA bloc has let down South India by obstructing the opportunity to increase the number of parliamentary seats in the southern states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

She claimed that the INDIA bloc prevented Telangana from increasing its MP seats from 17 to 26 and Andhra Pradesh from rising from 25 to 38.

She criticized the A. Revanth Reddy-led government in Telangana, highlighting what she described as failures of Congress governance and the injustices faced by the public.

Karandlaje expressed outrage over the Congress's failure to deliver on any promises made during the previous elections, including financial aid of Rs 2,500 for women, electric scooters for female students, unemployment benefits, enhancements in Asara pensions, and the provision of one tola of gold for married daughters.

She accused Chief Minister Reddy of making inappropriate comments against PM Modi merely to satisfy the party’s High Command, asserting that by failing to fulfill his promises, he is effectively “pickpocketing” the state’s citizens.

Under PM Modi’s leadership, Karandlaje noted, significant emphasis has been placed on women's empowerment over the last decade.

She highlighted that, aside from initiatives related to education, scholarships, and insurance, 60% of Mudra loans and 53% of MSME subsidies have been directed specifically towards women.