Government and Opposition trade sharp reactions over women's quota implementation

 Day after Bill defeat, Govt and Oppn in war of words over women's quota implementation

PTI, April 18, 2026, New Delhi: The BJP and the Opposition on Saturday engaged in a war of words over the issue of the implementation of women's reservation in legislatures, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju saying the parties which stalled the Constitution Amendment Bill will face the wrath of women.

The Opposition accused the government of delaying implementation by linking it with delimitation and using it to serve its political interests. While the ruling BJP termed the development a "black day" and accused the Congress and other Opposition parties of betraying women, the Congress and its allies asserted that the quota law, passed in 2023, should be implemented immediately and accused the government of playing politics over it. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress of being anti-women, and said it will have to face their wrath across the country. "They will have to face the anger of the women of the country. This is a black stain on the Congress and its allies, one that they will never be able to erase. This Bill was about giving historic representation to women — what objection could there have been," he told reporters in the Parliament House complex.

"The Opposition is celebrating after depriving women of their rights; women of the country will teach them a good lesson," he added. Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje targeted Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Opposition's actions had undermined both women's empowerment and regional representation. "They have harmed south India as well, where seats could have increased by over 50 per cent. Women were supposed to get reservation, but they have been denied that opportunity. This has been done under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi," Karandlaje alleged. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj accused the Congress and the INDIA bloc of deceiving women and backtracking on their earlier stand. "They have betrayed the trust of women, and we will take this story of your deception to every citizen," she said.

Opposition leaders accused the government of delaying implementation and using the issue for political gain in Assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the Opposition is not against women's reservation, but has objected to its linkage with delimitation. "We are fully in support of women's reservation and would have happily passed the Bill on Friday itself. Our objection was not to reservation, but to linking it with delimitation," he said. Tharoor said delimitation raises "fundamental questions" about the country's future and cannot be rushed. This is a very important issue for India's unity and democracy. It requires serious, wide-ranging discussion — not something to be decided in a two-day session.