New Delhi, April 16 (NationPress) Former Union Minister and prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) figure Smriti Irani launched a vigorous rebuttal against Akhilesh Yadav, the Chief of the Samajwadi Party (SP), during the ongoing special parliamentary session focused on the Women's Reservation Act and the Delimitation Bill. Yadav had criticized the BJP's internal politics while supporting the idea of a one-third reservation for women.

He suggested that reserving seats would lead to increased competition among women, humorously referencing the ongoing conflict between 'mother-in-law and daughter-in-law'—a comment many interpreted as a jab at Smriti Irani.

Previously, Irani faced defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi constituency against Congress candidate Kishori Lal Sharma.

Irani responded effectively via the social media platform X, taking aim at Yadav’s remarks: "I noticed Akhilesh ji mentioned me in Parliament today. That’s commendable—those who inherit politics often recall those who carve their own path. They critique working women while having never held a job. Shift your focus from soap operas to Parliament and prioritize the passage of that critical bill for women's empowerment."

Her comments reinforced the BJP's narrative of self-made leadership, calling into question Yadav's political heritage.

Meanwhile, Yadav persisted with his critique of the ruling party, accusing the BJP of obstructing sub-quotas for OBC women within the 33% reservation framework and manipulating the delimitation process for political advantage.

He called for a new census before any constituency boundary adjustments, arguing that without updated demographic data, fair representation would be jeopardized.

Invoking the thoughts of socialist thinker Ram Manohar Lohia, Yadav accused the BJP of turning women into mere slogans while failing to promote them within their organizational hierarchy.

He also pointed out the low number of women Chief Ministers, despite the BJP's dominance in 21 states.

The Opposition, led by the SP, has united in demanding specific sub-quotas for OBC and minority women, framing it as essential for achieving true social justice.

In the meantime, the Union government is pushing for the passage of a landmark bill that aims to reserve one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies for women.

However, the dual issues of delimitation and census remain contentious, with the Opposition warning that advancing without precise population data could undermine the essence of equitable representation.

As the special parliamentary session continues, the discourse has evolved into a discussion about political inheritance, gender justice, and the legislative reforms necessary for advancing women's empowerment.