Bengaluru, April 18 (NationPress) H.D. Kumaraswamy, the Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, accused the Congress party on Saturday of exhibiting an anti-women stance. He claimed that the party has hindered the implementation of women’s reservation in legislative bodies through the Women’s Reservation Bill. In response, Karnataka's Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, defended the Congress by highlighting that it was during the administration of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the Women’s Reservation Bill was first introduced.

Kumaraswamy drew parallels between the years 1996 and 2026, indicating that the Congress and its allies are once again opposing initiatives designed to secure 33% reservation for women in both Parliament and State Assemblies.

He recalled the United Front Government led by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda in 1996, asserting that a significant move was made to propose a Bill for 33% reservation for women, which he claims was thwarted by the Congress and its allies.

Furthermore, he asserted that the current government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has made strides to rectify what he termed a “historic injustice,” yet is facing renewed resistance from the Congress.

Kumaraswamy emphasized that those who have consistently opposed the Women’s Reservation Bill would face backlash from the “Nari Shakti” of the nation, dubbing such opposition as an insult to women.

He called on women nationwide to remain optimistic, expressing his belief that the objective of 33% reservation for women will be fulfilled under Prime Minister Modi’s guidance.

In the meantime, addressing the BJP's assertion that the Congress is anti-women due to its dissent against the Women’s Reservation Bill, Home Minister G. Parameshwara clarified, “Let me state categorically that the Congress party is not against the Women’s Reservation Bill. It was under the leadership of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that we were pioneers in this endeavor.”

“There is no basis for Congress leaders to oppose the Women’s Reservation Bill. The present Union government has tied the Women’s Reservation Bill to the increase of Lok Sabha seats,” he noted.

“The Lok Sabha, which consists of 543 seats, is set to expand to approximately 850 seats. Shouldn’t there have been a dialogue about this? The government ought to have engaged with the Opposition parties and facilitated a thorough discussion. Had this been done prior to the Bill’s introduction in the Lok Sabha, it might have been approved,” he questioned.

“All Opposition parties, including the Congress, would have contributed their feedback. Instead, by merging the proposal to augment Lok Sabha seats with the Women’s Reservation Bill, the approach has been misguided and does not align with good parliamentary practices,” Parameshwara explained.

“Thus, the Bill was defeated by 54 votes for these reasons. If the intention was genuinely to enforce women’s reservation, the government should have consulted the Opposition, involved them in discussions, and considered all aspects of the Bill,” he stated.

“If the Women’s Reservation Bill is presented independently from the issue of delimitation, a solution may be attainable. This is my viewpoint,” he concluded.