Mayawati Critiques Political Parties on Reservation and Women's Rights
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New Delhi, April 17 (NationPress) The leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Mayawati, fiercely criticized the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), and other political factions on Friday for their positions regarding constitutional and reservation matters, while also addressing the ongoing discourse surrounding women’s reservation and delimitation.
In her statement posted on X, Mayawati asserted that the Congress has a long history of neglecting the constitutional and legal entitlements of the SC, ST, and OBC communities, accusing them of failing to take significant steps to uphold reservation quotas during their time in power.
She stated, “When it comes to the constitutional and legal rights of the SC, ST, and OBC communities in the country, the Congress, which shifts its stance like a chameleon, is the same party that is currently discussing these categories in relation to women’s reservation but has never initiated any efforts during its governance to realize their reservation quotas in any sector.”
Mayawati further claimed that the Congress did not implement the 27 percent OBC reservation recommended by the Mandal Commission, which was later enacted during former Prime Minister V.P. Singh's administration—an initiative she attributes to the BSP's influence.
Additionally, she took aim at the SP for its handling of backward Muslim reservations in Uttar Pradesh, asserting that previous reports were not acted upon during their governance but were later addressed by the BSP administration in 1995.
In another segment of her post, she remarked that both the SP and Congress alter their positions based on their power status, urging communities to remain vigilant against being misled. “Thus, all these communities should always be cautious of such duplicitous parties,” she emphasized.
Regarding the issue of women’s reservation and delimitation, she pointed out that for swift implementation, it must rely on the 2011 Census, suggesting that even the Congress would likely have taken similar actions if they were in power today.
She concluded, “To sum up, the essence of this statement is that no political party in the nation has genuinely prioritized the real interests, welfare, and future development of SC, ST, OBC, and Muslim communities in any respect.”
On the topic of women’s reservation, she advised, “Hence, regarding women’s reservation, whatever these communities are currently receiving, they should accept it temporarily, and when a better opportunity arises, proper focus will be given to their needs—implying they should not be swayed by any enticements as they themselves need to become self-reliant and empower their society. This is my counsel.”
Meanwhile, three significant Bills—the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, The Delimitation Bill, 2026, and The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026—are presently under deliberation in a special session of Parliament. Voting on these Bills is scheduled for Friday at 4 P.M. in the Lok Sabha, following extensive discussions in the House.