BJP leaders protest outside Rahul Gandhi’s home over women’s quota bill
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New Delhi: A protest led by BJP leaders, including actor-turned-politician Hema Malini and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, was held outside the residence of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday over the issue of the women’s quota bill.
The demonstration was staged against the Congress following its stance on the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, with protesters accusing the party of failing to support the long-awaited 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament.
Hundreds of protesters carrying placards and banners marched from Motilal Nehru Marg to Rahul Gandhi’s residence on Sunehri Bagh Road, shouting slogans against the Congress. Some participants also wore black bands on their foreheads to express their anger. An effigy was also burnt during the protest.
Mathura MP Hema Malini described the development as a “sad day for all women in the country,” alleging that the Opposition had blocked efforts to pass the women’s reservation bill. She further said it appeared the Opposition does not trust “Nari Shakti”.
She credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with making consistent efforts to empower women, stating that he has worked for years to provide new opportunities and encourage women’s participation in decision-making. However, she alleged that the Opposition has repeatedly resisted such initiatives.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also criticised the Opposition, accusing it of continuously blocking the women’s reservation bill in Parliament. She said the mindset of the Opposition reflects its true intentions towards women’s empowerment.
“The women of the country are watching everything and understanding it. This injustice done to Nari Shakti will not go unanswered,” she said.
The protest was joined by several BJP leaders, including Minister of State Raksha Khadse, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, MPs Manoj Tiwari, Ramveer Singh Bidhuri, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Bansuri Swaraj, Manju Sharma, Dharmsila Gupta, Luxmi Verma, MLA Shikha Rai, councillor Yogita Singh, Vice President Lata Gupta, and Mahila Morcha president Richa Pandey.
Earlier, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had taken to social media platform X to criticise the Opposition for its role in blocking the bill. She described the development in the Lok Sabha as “painful and disheartening” for women hoping for rights and dignity.
She said the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ was a historic initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi aimed at empowering women, but alleged that the Opposition’s refusal to allow the constitutional amendment was an injustice to women’s rights.
“As a woman Chief Minister, this issue is not just political for me, but one of empathy and respect. The opportunity to give crores of women participation in decision-making has been snatched away from them today,” she wrote.
Rekha Gupta further alleged that this was not the first time the Congress and its allies had obstructed women’s rights initiatives, claiming it reflected their approach towards women’s empowerment. She assured that the Delhi government would continue to prioritise women-led development under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
With IANS inputs