Yogi Adityanath Accuses Opposition of Blocking Women’s Reservation Bill in West Bengal
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Jalpaiguri, April 18 (NationPress) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during his campaign in the election-bound state of West Bengal on Saturday, accused opposition parties of hindering the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment Bill in Parliament, calling it an "insult to half of the nation's population".
Speaking at election rallies in Mathabhanga of Cooch Behar district and Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri district, Adityanath claimed that those who support "Bangladeshi infiltrators" obstructed the Bill, which aims to provide a 33 percent reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. He emphasized that women across India "will not accept this insult".
Adityanath directed his criticism towards the ruling All India Trinamool Congress and its leader Mamata Banerjee, asserting that the law and order situation in West Bengal has worsened and expressed that citizens "no longer need to live in fear" as the BJP aims to establish a double-engine government in the region.
He further claimed that several parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Left parties, and the Trinamool Congress, are opposing the women's reservation Bill while focusing on "appeasement politics" instead of advocating for women's rights.
According to Adityanath, the presence of "infiltrators" on the voter lists in Bengal is hindering the underprivileged from accessing their rightful entitlements.
The Chief Minister also criticized the state government for its failures in areas like employment, agriculture, and industry.
He alleged that over 7,000 factories have closed down during the 15 years of Trinamool governance, while also asserting that farmers are not receiving fair compensation and youth unemployment remains high.
Contrasting this with the situation in Uttar Pradesh, he mentioned that his administration has improved law and order, reduced riots, and taken stringent measures against organized crime.
He also highlighted the Citizenship Amendment Act, which aims to grant citizenship to persecuted minority groups such as Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs from neighboring nations, including Bangladesh.
Additionally, Adityanath accused the state government of suppressing religious expressions, alleging that slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” lead to backlash and that permissions for festivals such as Durga Puja are often restricted—a claim that the state administration frequently denies.
Paying homage to Bengal's rich cultural heritage, the UP Chief Minister honored figures like Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, and Subhas Chandra Bose, while calling for the restoration of the state’s former glory.
He urged voters to back BJP candidates such as Nisith Pramanik, Savitri Burman, and Naresh Chandra Roy, reiterating his call for a double-engine government in West Bengal.
Adityanath also conducted a roadshow in Bankura, expressing gratitude for the people's enthusiasm and support.
"On May 4, the shadows of the TMC in West Bengal will fade, and the light of the BJP will emerge," he declared to the residents of Bankura.