Following the April 17 Lok Sabha rejection of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, for 33% women's quota post-delimitation, PM Narendra Modi and BJP leaders lambasted opposition parties as anti-women, while critics reiterated concerns over north-south imbalance. Modi to rally women in Varanasi on April 28.
In the wake of Friday's Lok Sabha defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026—earlier detailed in session coverage with 298 votes for and 230 against, missing the two-thirds majority—Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Saturday. He accused Congress, TMC, DMK, and SP of betraying women, invoking 'bhrun hatya' (foeticide), 'paap' (sin), and 'sazaa' (retribution), and branded Congress a 'parasite' and 'saboteur'. This marks the Modi government's first major legislative loss since 2014.
Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje deemed April 17 a 'Black Day' for Indian women on Sunday, faulting Congress and the INDIA alliance for sidelining women and southern states. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath compared opposition conduct to Draupadi's 'cheerharan' in the Mahabharata and slammed SP's push for separate Muslim women quota as anti-Ambedkar.
APCC president Y.S. Sharmila affirmed Congress's commitment to 33% quota sans delimitation linkage, calling PM Modi opportunistic. Opposition highlighted risks to federalism from hasty delimitation favoring northern seats.
PM Modi will address a women's convention in Varanasi on April 28 to press the attack on opponents.
