Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, 28 April alleged that parties including the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Indian National Congress stalled the passage of the women's reservation bill in Parliament, while vowing to leave "no stone unturned" to secure women's rightful representation in legislatures. The remarks came during a large gathering in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh — his own parliamentary constituency — where he also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth around ₹6,350 crore.

Setting the Stage in Kashi

Modi opened his address by greeting senior leaders present at the event, including Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, and Varanasi District Panchayat President Poonam Maurya. The gathering drew strong participation from women across the region.

Invoking the spiritual significance of Kashi, Modi said the sacred land is blessed by divine powers including Maa Shringar Gauri, Maa Annapurna, Maa Vishalakshi, and Maa Ganga. He said the presence of thousands of women had made the occasion "even more divine" and extended salutations to all mothers, sisters, and daughters present.

Modi's Charge Against SP and Congress

The Prime Minister directly accused the SP and Congress of blocking the women's reservation bill in Parliament. "As the Member of Parliament from Kashi and as the Prime Minister of the country, I seek your blessings to achieve a major national goal," he said, referring to the implementation of reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.

He reiterated that his government remains committed to ensuring the bill's implementation and assured the gathering that women will receive their rightful share of political representation. Notably, the women's reservation bill — which seeks to reserve one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies for women — was passed by Parliament in September 2023 but its operationalisation is contingent on a delimitation exercise, which has not yet been completed.

Women as the Pillar of Viksit Bharat

Emphasising the role of women in national development, Modi said that Nari Shakti (women's power) is the "strongest pillar" for building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India). He added that empowering women leads to stronger families, which in turn strengthens society and the nation as a whole.

He acknowledged that women — including those in Kashi — have faced numerous hardships and struggles over the years, and framed his visit as an effort to seek their blessings for a major national mission.

Infrastructure Push: ₹6,350 Crore Projects Unveiled

Earlier on Tuesday, Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth approximately ₹6,350 crore in Varanasi, targeting improvements in infrastructure, connectivity, and public services across the region.

He also highlighted recent connectivity developments, noting that the rail linkage between Kashi and Ayodhya has been significantly strengthened. Two Amrit Bharat trains were flagged off, offering modern travel options for passengers from cities including Mumbai and Pune as well as other parts of Maharashtra to reach Ayodhya and Varanasi. Modi termed the development an "auspicious beginning" and congratulated citizens across the country.

With the delimitation timeline still uncertain, the political battle over women's reservation is set to intensify ahead of upcoming state elections.