Chandrababu Naidu Critiques Opposition for Blocking Women's Reservation Bill
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Amaravati, April 18 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, asserted on Friday that the Congress-led Opposition's obstruction of the Women’s Reservation Bill has thwarted a significant advancement for women's empowerment in India.
“This act is more than mere political hindrance; it represents a betrayal of countless women who deserve an equitable voice and appropriate representation in Parliament. The nation will not forget this,” he conveyed on ‘X’.
In a subsequent post, the leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) remarked that the Opposition’s defeat of the Delimitation and Constitutional Amendment Bill constitutes a serious disservice to the country.
He elaborated that with the cessation of the freeze under Article 81 approaching its end after the first Census post-2026, the upcoming census will realign seat distribution based purely on population dynamics, which could significantly reduce representation for Southern, North-Eastern, and smaller states.
Naidu emphasized that the proposal from the National Democratic Alliance was a genuine attempt to maintain federal balance, safeguard the voices of Southern, North-Eastern, and smaller states, and guarantee a 33 percent representation for women. He highlighted that states excelling in crucial development metrics should not be disadvantaged within the democratic framework.
“It is regrettable that political motives have taken precedence over long-term national interests. Those who are celebrating this outcome need to reflect; we have missed an opportunity to establish a fair and constitutional protection for rightful representation,” he stated.
Additionally, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan criticized the Opposition parties, noting they have wasted a precious chance to promote women’s empowerment within legislative frameworks.
He remarked that if the Opposition had backed the Women’s Reservation Bill, they too would have gained respect. He expressed optimism that, in the future, women will attain their rightful roles in the legislature.
As the president of the Jana Sena Party, Kalyan remarked, “As a member of the National Democratic Alliance, the Jana Sena Party applauds the initiative taken by Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in presenting this Bill to the Lok Sabha. Had this Bill been passed, women across India would have celebrated greatly.”