Guntur: The BJP Mahila Morcha, Yuva Morcha and the NDA alliance jointly organised a "Praja Akrosh Mahila Yatra" (Women's Protest March) in Guntur on Sunday, demanding that opposition parties be held accountable for allegedly blocking the implementation of the 33 per cent Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament. The protest rally marched from Shankar Vilas Centre to the Ambedkar statue, drawing a sizeable turnout of women participants and party workers.

Addressing the rally, district president Cherukuri Tirupathi Rao alleged that the INDIA bloc had done a disservice to women out of fear that reservations in legislative bodies would erode their own political standing. He warned that women across the country would give the opposition an appropriate response in the days to come.

Mahila Morcha district president Dr. Radha Madhavi said it was deeply unfortunate that the INDIA bloc continued to sideline women in political representation. She noted that the Central government had been taking measures to ensure the economic empowerment of women from birth to old age through various welfare schemes, and called it deplorable that the Women's Reservation Bill — aimed at providing political opportunities as well — was being obstructed.

District Yuva Morcha president Yashwant said it was heartening to see women across the country, cutting across party lines, coming out to protest against the stance of the Congress and the INDIA bloc.

Mahila Morcha state general secretary Naddi Nagamalleswari Yadav asserted that 33 per cent reservation was a rightful entitlement of women. She said the party would intensify protest marches against the Congress alliance in the future and pledged to take the core objectives of the Women's Reservation Bill to every woman in the state, while exposing what she described as the INDIA bloc's anti-women actions before society at large.

Among those who participated were Mahila Morcha state secretary Hari Pavani, Mirchi Yard director Sravana Kumari, district vice-president Mantri Suguna, Vimala Devi, Yuva Morcha leaders Sridurga and Swapna, Mahila Morcha leaders Dr. Sravanthi, Padmaja and Swati Swapna, TDP leader Kalpana, BJP state leaders Eedara Srinivas Reddy, Velagaleti Gangadhar, Kokkera Srinivas Yadav, Charaka Kumar Goud and Mekala Lakshman, along with several district leaders and functionaries.

Vijayawada, April 23: Union Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries Bhupatiraju Srinivasa Varma on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Congress party and its allies for what he described as their duplicitous stance on the Women's Reservation Bill, asserting that the Modi government remained firmly committed to ensuring 33 per cent representation for women in legislative bodies by 2029.

Addressing a press conference organised under the banner of 'Jana Akrosh' in Vijayawada, along with NDA alliance leaders, the Minister said that the enactment of the 'Nari Shakti Vandanam' legislation stood as testimony to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unwavering commitment to women's empowerment. He recalled that successive governments over the past three decades had reduced women's reservation to a mere electoral promise, whereas the Modi government, since 2014, had pursued the matter with sincerity and resolve.

Bhupatiraju said the credit for introducing and securing passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in 2023 belonged entirely to the NDA government under Modi's leadership. He alleged that when the amendment bill to implement the 33 per cent reservation from 2029 was placed before Parliament, the Congress and its allies obstructed it with various pretexts, defeating it by a margin of merely 54 votes. He described this as a betrayal of the aspirations of women across the country, and accused parties with patriarchal ideologies of conspiring to prevent women from advancing politically.

Dismissing opposition claims that southern States were being shortchanged, the Minister argued that it was precisely the failure to pass the amendment bill that was causing grave injustice to the southern States, and urged opposition parties to recognise this reality and extend their support. He explained that the Modi government was undertaking the delimitation process with the objective of implementing women's reservation by the 2029 elections, well ahead of 2034, and that a population-based reorganisation of constituencies would ensure equal opportunities for all regions and women alike. He noted that women currently constituted only 12.6 per cent of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, and stressed that reservations were indispensable to improve this figure.

TDP leader Gadde Anuradha, who also addressed the gathering, held the neglect of previous governments responsible for India's poor ranking in global indices of women's empowerment. Jana Sena leader Potireddy Sunitha said that genuine development was possible only when women entered decision-making roles, and affirmed that the alliance government in the State was committed to that goal.

Among those present were BJP State General Secretary Lakshmi Prasanna, Mahila Morcha President Nishidha Raju, and Media In-charge Kilari Dileep, among others.

Vijayawada, April 20: The Andhra Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Congress party and its allies for opposing the Women's Reservation Bill, announcing a series of NDA protest programmes across the State later this month.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP State office in Vijayawada, party State general secretary Nagotu Ramesh Naidu accused Congress and its allies — the Trinamool Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Samajwadi Party — of collectively blocking legislation that sought to ensure equal political representation for women. "They are celebrating this obstruction as though it were a great victory," he said.

Mr. Naidu recalled that the Congress-led UPA government had, during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi, enacted special legislation in the Shah Bano case overriding a Supreme Court ruling. He further noted that while Sonia Gandhi had successfully steered the Women's Reservation Bill through the Rajya Sabha, the party failed to bring it to a vote in the Lok Sabha. He accused the Congress of using Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to play what he termed a "Shikandi role" in obstructing the bill.

Asserting that delimitation must not be carried out on the basis of population ratios alone, Mr. Naidu said the BJP remained committed to reintroducing the Women's Reservation Bill and securing its passage. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working towards making women equal partners in the nation's development, and no obstacle will deter that goal," he said.

The party announced a series of protest events across Andhra Pradesh. On April 24, a demonstration will be held in Vijayawada with BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav, Minister Kandula Durgesh and TDP State president Palla Srinivasarao as chief guests. A parallel protest will be organised in Rajamahendravari under the leadership of MP Daggubati Purandeswari on the same day.

On April 25, Union Minister of State Bhupatiraju Srinivas Varma will participate in protests at Tirupati, while a separate programme is scheduled in Kurnool.

BJP NTR District president Adduri Sriram was also present at the press conference.

NEW DELHI, April 18: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on the Opposition on Friday, expressing outrage over the defeat of key legislation related to women's reservations in the Lok Sabha and accusing the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and Samajwadi Party of collectively undermining women's empowerment.

Taking to the social media platform X, Mr. Shah said it was shameful that the Opposition parties were celebrating the defeat of a Bill that would have strengthened women's political representation. "This is not the first time Congress and its allies have done this. They have consistently adopted the same stance on critical issues concerning national development and women's empowerment," he said.

The Home Minister asserted that the Congress had no genuine interest in national development, women's rights, or empowerment, and that all the parties that had voted against the Bill had together betrayed Indian women who had been fighting for their rights for decades.

Mr. Shah warned that the Opposition would face a decisive political response from the women of India in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. "The women of this country will give a fitting answer to the parties that opposed the Women's Reservation Bill," he said, adding that no political force could afford to take women's aspirations lightly.

The 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, which sought to fast-track the implementation of the one-third reservation for women in legislative bodies, was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Thursday after the ruling National Democratic Alliance failed to secure the two-thirds majority required for a constitutional amendment. Of the 528 members who participated in the division vote, 298 supported the Bill while 230 voted against it, leaving the government 54 votes short of the required 352.

NEW DELHI, April 18: The Central government's ambitious attempt to fast-track the implementation of women's reservations in legislative bodies suffered a significant setback on Thursday when the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha, falling short of the two-thirds majority required for a constitutional amendment.

Of the 528 members who participated in the division voting, 298 voted in favour of the Bill while 230 voted against it. The Bill required 352 votes for passage, and with the ruling National Democratic Alliance failing to bridge a gap of 54 votes, Speaker Om Birla officially declared the Bill defeated.

Following the defeat, the Central government also withdrew two related pieces of legislation — proposals pertaining to amendments to Union Territory laws and delimitation. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju made the announcement in the House.

BJP members, incensed by the outcome, staged a dharna outside Parliament in protest.

Early implementation of women's quota was the objective

The 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill had been introduced with the specific aim of reducing the long wait for the women's reservation law to come into force. Parliament had already passed the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act — the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam — in 2023 with unanimous support. However, that legislation contains a provision linking its implementation to the completion of a fresh census and subsequent delimitation exercise, effectively pushing enforcement to 2029 or later.

To circumvent this delay, the Central government proposed expanding the Lok Sabha's strength from the current 543 seats to 850, and carving out a dedicated women's quota within this expanded House without disturbing existing SC, ST, and general category seats.

Three days of special sessions, 21 hours of debate

The Bills had been introduced in the House on April 16 following three days of special sessions convened specifically for the purpose. Deliberations stretched over 21 hours, with sharp exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches. A particularly heated confrontation took place between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The Opposition, particularly parties representing southern States, raised strong objections, contending that the delimitation exercise as proposed carried the risk of reducing parliamentary representation for States in the south. They argued that delimitation should be undertaken only after a caste census, maintaining that social justice could not be achieved otherwise.

Amit Shah assures 50 per cent seat increase for all States

Responding to concerns about regional imbalance, Mr. Shah gave categorical assurances on the floor of the House that seats in every State would be increased by at least 50 per cent and that no State would be disadvantaged. He urged members not to divide the country along north-south lines, asserting that all States enjoyed equal rights under the Constitution.

In a significant gesture, Mr. Shah offered to formally amend the Bill on the spot if members felt the 50 per cent guarantee was not explicitly stated. "Give me one hour and I will incorporate it as an official amendment," he declared.

Had the Bill cleared the Lok Sabha, it would have proceeded to the Rajya Sabha for consideration. With its defeat at the first stage, the government's bid to advance the timeline for women's reservations has, for now, come to a halt. The Centre is yet to indicate its next course of action.

AMARAVATI, April 18: The defeat of the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha amounted to a stain on Indian democracy, Andhra Pradesh BJP chief spokesman Valluru Jayaprakash Narayan said on Friday, accusing the Congress-led INDIA bloc of committing a grave injustice against the women of this country by blocking legislation that would have expedited the implementation of women's reservations in legislative bodies.

In a strongly worded statement, Mr. Narayan described April 17 as a day of humiliation for every mother, sister, and daughter in India. He alleged that while Congress spoke at length about women's empowerment, its actions in Parliament told an entirely different story.

"Congress has spewed poison on the question of women's reservations. Snatching away women's rights is a political sin. It is shameful that Congress is celebrating having defeated the women of this nation," he said.

Dynasty politics at the root of opposition, alleges BJP

Mr. Narayan alleged that the Congress party had consistently pursued anti-women policies, and that all parties that had obstructed the Women's Reservation Bill were those accustomed to dynastic rule. He contended that these parties could not tolerate the prospect of ordinary women securing a place in legislative assemblies.

Holding Congress president Rahul Gandhi and leaders of the INDIA bloc directly responsible, he accused them of having betrayed women by promising reservations while in power and failing to deliver. "They are traitors to the women of this country," he said.

The BJP spokesman observed that despite being rejected by the electorate on multiple occasions, the Congress had shown no signs of course correction. He predicted that the women of India would deliver a fitting political response to the Congress alliance in the days ahead.

Calling for electoral accountability, Mr. Narayan urged voters in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu to defeat the Congress, DMK, and TMC alliances in the upcoming elections as an assertion of women's self-respect and dignity.

"Women's power will make itself heard," he said.

AMARAVATI, April 18: Describing the Opposition's stance as a black day for Indian democracy, BJP national leader and State Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party for voting against the Women's Reservation Bill and the Delimitation legislation in Parliament, asserting that both moves reflected a deliberate attempt to deny justice to women and marginalised communities.

"Opposing 33 per cent reservation for women in legislative bodies is nothing short of obstructing the future of this nation," Mr. Yadav said in a statement issued late Friday evening. "This is a dark day for democracy."

The Minister did not spare the Congress on its track record, pointing out that the party had neither advanced the Women's Reservation Bill when in power nor supported it in Opposition. "This is the Congress and company brand of women's empowerment — block it in government, block it in Opposition," he said sharply.

Mr. Yadav argued that opposing the Bill amounted to denying women from ordinary families their rightful place in politics. "It is a direct assault on the rights of sisters and daughters of this country. The women of India and the people of this nation will not forgive the Opposition for this," he said.

Delimitation will reduce southern seats if based on 2023 figures, says Minister

Turning to the Delimitation issue, Mr. Yadav contended that opposing the Bills was tantamount to blocking the political advancement of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Drawing comparisons with established democracies, he noted that representation ratios abroad were far lower — one Lok Sabha member for every one lakh voters in London, 1.1 lakh in France and Germany, 1.2 lakh in Canada, 1.7 lakh in Australia, 2.7 lakh in Japan, and 7.7 lakh in the United States. In India, by contrast, a single Lok Sabha member represents as many as 27 lakh constituents, he pointed out.

Mr. Yadav acknowledged that conducting delimitation on the basis of 2023 population figures would result in a reduction of existing seats in southern States, with the exercise due in 2026. He maintained, however, that the Central government had taken appropriate steps in this regard, and that the Opposition's attempts to obstruct the process were both unwise and indefensible.

"It is deeply unfortunate that the very parties claiming to champion federal principles are standing in the way of a constitutionally mandated exercise," he said.

AMARAVATI, April 18: Andhra Pradesh BJP president PVN Madhav on Friday warned that the Congress party would inevitably face political repercussions for opposing the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament, describing the party's stance as deeply unfortunate and a clear betrayal of its stated commitment to women's empowerment.

Speaking to mediapersons in Amaravati, Mr. Madhav said that Congress members voting against both the Women's Reservation Bill and the delimitation-related legislation had exposed the party's true position on women's political representation. "Their actions in Parliament speak louder than their rhetoric," he said.

The BJP leader asserted that the Women's Reservation Bill was an indispensable reform to ensure adequate representation of women across all levels of governance — from the grassroots to the national stage. He contended that the Bill's implementation would significantly strengthen women's leadership at every tier of the political structure.

Mr. Madhav accused the Congress of paying mere lip service to women's empowerment while retreating when it mattered most. "A party that fails to protect women's rights will be given a fitting response by the people," he said.

Reaffirming the BJP's commitment to the cause, Mr. Madhav credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for several landmark decisions in favour of women's welfare, describing the reservation legislation as a milestone in that journey. He maintained that inclusive development was possible only by ensuring equal opportunities for women.

He also extended gratitude to all those who had stood in support of the Bill.

NEW DELHI, APRIL 16: Rajamahendravaram Lok Sabha member and BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari on Wednesday lent her unequivocal support to the Delimitation Bill 2026 and the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill introduced in the Lower House, while allaying concerns over the potential marginalisation of southern states in a reconstituted Parliament.

Speaking during the debate on the two bills, Ms. Purandeswari sought to address the apprehension — widely expressed by Opposition members and southern political formations — that a fresh delimitation exercise would result in a net reduction of Lok Sabha seats for states that have performed better on demographic indicators.

No state will lose existing seats, she asserts

Outlining the contours of the Centre's proposal, she said the government's plan to increase the total number of Lok Sabha seats by 50 per cent would ensure that no state loses its current tally of seats. Basing the exercise on the 2011 Census data, she argued, would preserve the existing political balance while accommodating expanded representation commensurate with overall population growth.

"The voice of the southern states will remain as strong as ever in Parliament," she said, adding that the delimitation process would be participatory in nature, with public hearings providing citizens and state governments an opportunity to place their views on record before any final determination is made.

Congress indicted for "deliberate delay" on women's reservation

Turning to the women's reservation provisions embedded in the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, Ms. Purandeswari trained her guns on the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, holding it responsible for what she described as decades of unconscionable delay on a matter of fundamental political justice.

She recalled that the Women's Reservation Bill had been pending since 1996 and that while the Rajya Sabha had passed it in 2010, the UPA government had declined to bring it before the Lok Sabha — a failure she characterised as a deliberate act of political omission. "When Prime Minister Modi is now implementing this on a war footing, it ill behoves the Opposition to obstruct it on frivolous political grounds," she said.

Women as decision-makers, not merely participants

Ms. Purandeswari argued that the reservation of seats for women in legislative bodies would effect a qualitative transformation in the nature of women's participation in public life — elevating them from stakeholders to decision-makers in the truest sense. She invoked the legacy of B.R. Ambedkar, contending that the bill was in consonance with his vision of ensuring political justice for historically underrepresented sections of society.

Concluding her address, she said it was a matter of deep personal pride to be a participant in what she called a historic moment in India's constitutional history.

Andhra Pradesh BJP spokesperson Sheikh Baji demands Congress clarify its stand, accuses party leadership of double standards on women's empowerment

AMARAVATI, April 15: As the Women's Reservation Bill came up for discussion in Parliament on Wednesday, Andhra Pradesh BJP State spokesperson Sheikh Baji launched a sharp attack on the Congress party, accusing it of indulging in what he termed "duplicitous politics" on the question of women's representation in legislative bodies.

Addressing mediapersons here, Mr. Baji demanded that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi spell out their party's unambiguous position on the Bill, asserting that a party which claims to champion women's rights cannot afford to remain equivocal on a matter of such constitutional significance.

The BJP spokesperson credited the Central government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with demonstrating a sustained commitment to women's empowerment through concrete policy measures. He pointed to the elevation of Droupadi Murmu to the office of President — the highest constitutional post in the country — and the continuing tenure of Nirmala Sitharaman as Finance Minister as evidence of the ruling dispensation's confidence in women's leadership and capability.

Mr. Baji also cited the allocation of 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions as a structural reform that had laid the groundwork for inclusive rural governance. Greater participation of women at the grassroots level, he argued, had demonstrable effects on rural education, economic activity, and skill development — ultimately stemming migration and accelerating regional growth.

Invoking the government's guiding principle of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas," he underscored that no vision of national development could be complete without ensuring meaningful representation for women across all tiers of governance.

The spokesperson also drew attention to the expanding role of women in the armed forces, commending the service of women officers and invoking historical figures such as Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Rani Rudramadevi of the Kakatiya dynasty as enduring symbols of feminine resolve and leadership that continue to inspire generations.

Mr. Baji concluded by calling upon all political parties and civil society to extend wholehearted support to the Women's Reservation Bill, describing it as an instrument indispensable to the country's broader democratic and developmental aspirations.

Visakhapatnam, April 12: State Health Minister Y. Satyakumar Yadav on Monday announced that the Centre is set to introduce the 'Nari Shakti Vandanam' legislation aimed at ensuring adequate representation for women in legislative bodies, with parliamentary debate on the Bill scheduled for the 17th and 18th of this month.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP district office, presided over by district president M.M.N. Parashurama Raju, the Minister underscored the stark disparity between women's share of the population and their presence in elected bodies. "Women constitute more than half the country's population, yet their representation in legislatures stands at a mere 13 per cent," he said.

Mr. Satyakumar pointed to the success of the 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies as evidence of their capability and readiness for a larger political role. He also cited schemes such as Jan Dhan accounts, Startup India, and Stand Up India as instruments through which women had achieved greater economic self-reliance in recent years.

Reaffirming the NDA coalition's commitment to substantive rather than rhetorical women's empowerment, the Minister stated that the alliance had set itself the goal of implementing the women's reservation framework from the next elections onward.

Opposition in the crosshairs

Turning to political matters, Mr. Satyakumar trained his criticism on the opposition, expressing surprise that the Congress party, which he said had failed to cross even the 100-seat mark, continued to level charges against the government. He also took strong exception to remarks by YSRCP leaders regarding investments by global firms such as Google and ArcelorMittal in the State, calling their statements unwarranted.

On the Bhogapuram project, the Minister said it was untenable for those who had neglected the initiative for five years to now claim ownership of it.

Commenting on the broader national political landscape, Mr. Satyakumar asserted that a change in governance was needed in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, and added that senior coalition leaders would campaign in areas with a significant Telugu-speaking population wherever elections are under way.

The press conference was attended by BJP Legislature Party leader P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, TDP district president Ch. Pattabhi, BJP State secretary U. Sujatha Raj, and women leaders N. Jyothi and Ananthalakshmi, among others.

Andhra Pradesh unit calls comments "incendiary," accuses Congress of stoking communal tension

AMARAVATI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday demanded an unconditional public apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over remarks the party described as communally provocative and unbecoming of a senior national leader.

Sheikh Baji, official spokesperson of the Andhra Pradesh unit of the BJP, said Mr. Kharge had drawn an analogy during a recent meeting in which he allegedly likened the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP to a snake obstructing a worshipper mid-namaz — suggesting they be treated accordingly. Mr. Baji said the remarks, which have since circulated widely, amounted to an incitement to violence.

"It is deeply unfortunate that the president of a national political party, who bears a responsibility to uphold the unity and integrity of this country, should resort to language that inflames communal passions."

— Sheikh Baji, BJP AP spokesperson

The BJP spokesperson further alleged that the Congress party had, over successive decades, pursued a deliberate strategy of exploiting caste and religious fault lines for electoral advantage. He accused the party of attempting to divide society along sectarian lines at a time when national cohesion demanded restraint from political leaders of all persuasions.

Mr. Baji demanded that Mr. Kharge retract the remarks without delay and apologise to the people of India. He also called upon the Congress leadership to put in place safeguards to ensure that similar statements were not repeated in future.

The Congress party had not, at the time of filing this report, issued any response to the BJP's demands.