Uttarakhand CM Dhami attacks Opposition over Women's Bill defeat, invokes Mahabharat and Ramayan
Synopsis
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami used a special Assembly session to turn the Women's Reservation Bill's defeat into a full-scale political offensive — comparing Opposition celebrations to the Kauravs' insult of Draupadi and Ravan's arrogance, while naming Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and Abhishek Banerjee directly. The session signals the BJP's intent to weaponise the Bill's failure heading into the next electoral cycle.
Key Takeaways
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami addressed a special Uttarakhand Assembly session on 28 April themed 'Nari Samman, Loktantra mein Adhikar'.
The session focused on the defeat of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Amendment) Bill , which sought 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Dhami alleged the INDIA bloc , Congress , and their allies blocked the Bill, and compared their celebrations to the Kauravs insulting Draupadi in the Mahabharat.
He named Rahul Gandhi , Akhilesh Yadav , and Abhishek Banerjee as having celebrated the Bill's defeat.
Dhami drew a second parallel to Ravan's arrogance from the Ramayan, targeting Congress, TMC , and DMK leaders.
PM Modi had convened a special Parliament session on 16 April to advance the Bill, according to Dhami.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on 28 April launched a sharp attack on the Opposition over the defeat of the Women's Reservation (Amendment) Bill, drawing pointed parallels from the Mahabharat and Ramayan during a one-day special Assembly session themed 'Nari Samman, Loktantra mein Adhikar' (Women's Honour, Rights in Democracy) in Dehradun. The session was convened specifically to discuss women's political representation following the Bill's failure to pass in the Lok Sabha.
CM Dhami's Opening Address
Opening his address, Chief Minister Dhami paid tribute to the women who contributed to the formation of Uttarakhand as a separate state, invoking cultural reverence for women. "In our Sanatan culture, women are worshipped as goddesses in the form of Maa Durga, Maa Lakshmi, and Maa Saraswati. We seek prosperity and knowledge through their blessings... This is not just our faith and tradition, but the consciousness of our great culture, which always places women at the highest respect and position," he said.
He cited a roster of iconic women — from Rani Lakshmi Bai and Savitribai Phule to astronaut Kalpana Chawla — as benchmarks of courage and leadership. He specifically highlighted Uttarakhand's own historical figures, including Tilu Rauteli, Jiya Rani, Rani Karnavati, and Gaura Devi of the Chipko Movement, underscoring the state's tradition of women-led resistance.
The Women's Reservation Bill and Its Defeat
Dhami recalled that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Amendment) Bill, introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, sought to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. "This was not merely a step to increase the representation of women in legislatures, but also a historic initiative to ensure their meaningful participation in the policymaking process of the country," he said.
He stated that PM Modi had convened a special session of Parliament on 16 April to advance the legislation and had sought cooperation from all political parties. According to Dhami, the INDIA bloc, the Indian National Congress, and their allies opposed and prevented the Bill from being passed. "The aim was to secure rightful representation for half of the country's population in the next Lok Sabha," he added.
Mythological Parallels and Attack on the Opposition
The Chief Minister's sharpest remarks came when he compared the Opposition's reaction to the Bill's defeat to episodes from Hindu epics. "When the Bill was defeated due to insufficient votes, the entire country witnessed how Opposition members celebrated by thumping their desks... It reminded me of the Mahabharat episode when the Kauravs insulted Draupadi, and the way Duryodhan, Dushashan and Karna rejoiced. Similarly, after depriving Nari Shakti of their rights, Congress's Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool's Abhishek Banerjee were seen celebrating," he said.
He drew a second parallel from the Ramayan, alleging, "The manner in which Nari Shakti was disrespected in the Lok Sabha by leaders of Congress, TMC and DMK reminded me of Ravan's arrogance. Perhaps the Congress leadership forgot that Ravan was ultimately defeated because of that very ego and the insult of Mata Sita." He further alleged that the Congress is misleading the public on the issue of women's reservation.
Delimitation and Women's Participation
Dhami also questioned the Opposition's resistance to delimitation, arguing that an increase in the total number of seats would have directly expanded women's representation. "Why does the Opposition have a problem if the number of seats is increased under delimitation? The increased seats would have helped increase women's participation. So why have a problem with that?" he asked.
He appealed to all Assembly members to support the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Amendment) Bill and reiterated that no society can progress without empowering women. "Without the empowerment of women, real progress of any society cannot be imagined," he said. The session signals Uttarakhand's intent to keep the women's reservation debate alive ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
Point of View
Not just rhetorical flourish. By invoking the Draupadi episode and Ravan's arrogance, he roots the BJP's narrative in cultural memory that resonates deeply with a large section of the electorate — making Opposition pushback on the Bill politically costly. What the session does not address is the BJP's own record on women's representation within its own party structures and candidate lists. The Women's Reservation Bill has been a recurring promise across multiple governments since 1996; the real accountability question is why it took three decades and still failed. Framing the Opposition as the sole obstacle risks obscuring that longer, more complicated history.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Uttarakhand special Assembly session on 28 April about?
The session, themed 'Nari Samman, Loktantra mein Adhikar', was convened to discuss the defeat of the Women's Reservation (Amendment) Bill, which sought 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami used the session to attack the Opposition for blocking the legislation.
What is the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Amendment) Bill?
It is a legislative proposal introduced under PM Narendra Modi's leadership that seeks to reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. According to CM Dhami, the Bill was defeated after the INDIA bloc, Congress, and their allies opposed it during a special Parliament session on 16 April.
Why did CM Dhami invoke the Mahabharat and Ramayan?
Dhami compared Opposition members celebrating the Bill's defeat to the Kauravs' insult of Draupadi in the Mahabharat, naming Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and Abhishek Banerjee. He also drew a parallel to Ravan's arrogance from the Ramayan, targeting Congress, TMC, and DMK leaders for what he called disrespect to women's rights.
Who did CM Dhami name as responsible for the Bill's defeat?
Dhami specifically named Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, and Trinamool Congress's Abhishek Banerjee, alleging they celebrated the Bill's defeat. He also broadly blamed the INDIA bloc, Congress, TMC, and DMK for blocking the legislation.
What is the significance of delimitation in the women's reservation debate?
CM Dhami argued that an increase in the total number of parliamentary seats through delimitation would have directly expanded the number of seats available for women under reservation. He questioned why the Opposition opposed delimitation if they genuinely supported women's political representation.
