Women's Reservation Bill Defeat: Meghwal Calls Out Opposition Betrayal

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal pulled no punches Saturday, accusing the opposition of stabbing women in the back by torpedoing the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. The proposed 33% quota for women in Lok Sabha and assemblies was rejected, Meghwal claimed, purely to undercut PM Modi's legacy. In pointed remarks, he recalled Modi's gracious offer: 'Take the credit, just pass it.' The opposition's refusal and subsequent victory laps in Parliament drew his ire. 'Dancing over denied rights is despicable. Women won't forgive this duplicity.' The special three-day session buzzed with arguments over 2023 Act amendments and delimitation to boost female representation fairly across states. Despite assurances of no bias against the south, the bill crumbled without two-thirds approval. RPI leader Ramdas Athawale joined the fray at a presser, decrying the 'sinister plot' to weaken the Modi government's empowerment drive. He noted the bill's prior passage in 2023, now stalled in implementation. Meghwal extended criticism to military mockery, with opposition labeling Operation Sindoor a 'conjurer's trick.' This saga reveals stark partisan rifts, where gender justice serves as political ammunition. Looking ahead, the episode could reshape voter dynamics, especially among women. The ruling dispensation eyes alternative paths to deliver on long-pending promises, undeterred by legislative roadblocks.