New Delhi, April 18 (NationPress) Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju stated on Saturday that the rejection of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, should not be viewed as a failure of the Central government or the BJP, but as a significant blow dealt to the nation by Congress and other opposition parties.

His comments came during a press conference a day after the Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha. This proposed legislation aimed to grant 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament but failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority, igniting a fierce political clash between the ruling NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc.

Despite a lengthy debate throughout the day, the Bill, which also sought to increase the total number of seats in the House, received 278 votes in favor and 211 against, falling short of the required threshold for passage.

In light of this setback, the Centre opted not to advance two related delimitation Bills, asserting that the three proposals could be viewed independently.

Expressing his dismay over the results, Rijiju remarked, “The way Congress obstructed the passage of this Bill with the two-thirds majority is disheartening. We are not saddened for our government or party but for the women of our country. The critical initiative to empower women in the Lok Sabha and Assemblies has failed, and that is why we are saddened.”

He further emphasized, “This should not be seen as a failure of our government or party, but as a grave blow to the nation by Congress and other opposition entities. They will have to face the backlash from women. Congress is now marked with the negative label of being anti-women.”

Pointing out the opposition's response, the Minister stated, “Rejoicing after denying women their rights and reservations is unfortunate and showcases an anti-women mindset. They have completely revealed their true character. Excuses will not suffice. The plain reality is that Congress and its allies have obstructed the Bill that was aimed at granting rights to women.”

He added that celebrating such an outcome was inappropriate, noting that no political party should take pleasure in denying women their rightful representation, labeling it a “sinful act.”

Rijiju also declared the end of the Budget Session, calling it “historic” and “highly productive.” He highlighted what he described as significant milestones, including progress toward the eradication of Left-wing extremism.

He asserted that the government's commitment under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eliminate Left-wing extremism is nearing fruition. “The Home Minister elaborated on this effectively during the discussions. This is a monumental achievement for the country,” he said.

Expanding on this, Rijiju noted, “The three major challenges facing our nation have been: separatism and extremism in Kashmir, militancy in the Northeast, and Left-Wing extremism in Central India. Among these, the situation in Kashmir has significantly normalized. Left-Wing Extremism is on the brink of being entirely eradicated. In the Northeast, aside from minor internal ethnic issues in Manipur, peace has largely been restored across the region. These are substantial achievements for our country.”

Despite these advancements, he acknowledged that the failure to enact the Women’s Reservation Bill remains a significant disappointment. “Yesterday in Parliament, I mentioned that the efforts made by Modi ji to uplift and honor women are beyond what anyone could have imagined. However, we will persist with even greater determination. I am grateful to the Prime Minister for the relentless efforts we put forth to ensure that women receive their rights,” he stated.

He reiterated that the government adhered to democratic protocols and could not coerce members of the opposition into supporting the Bill.

“If Congress and its allies are unwilling to cooperate, we cannot compel them to vote through intimidation. Their mindset is inherently anti-women. We cannot physically force them to vote. Thus, we followed the democratic process and conducted the vote,” Rijiju explained.

The Minister claimed to have made numerous attempts to engage opposition leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, but alleged a lack of involvement from their side.

“They merely send letters; they do not attend meetings. All other parties participated in the discussions. The Home Minister, myself, the Law Minister... we have held multiple meetings. The Congress party does not engage. They then claim that discussions are not occurring. They do not come forward. They send letters three times, then claim that we are not facilitating discussions,” he said.

Reiterating his criticism, Rijiju stated, “The anti-women stance of the Congress party has been laid bare before the nation. It is regrettable. Congress will have to reckon with the anger of women. Nevertheless, our endeavors will persist. We will continue striving.”