New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an absolutely scathing attack on Congress and other Opposition parties for ‘plotting’ to defeat the bill for women’s reservation in Parliament on Friday.
Apologising the women of the country for having failed to ensure the passage of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, in Lok Sabha, delivered a 29-minute televised address to the nation on Saturday to express his pain and disappointment.
Countering the Opposition’s objection to the delimitation exercise based on the 2011 census, as part of women’s reservation, Modi said it was an “attempt to give more voice to every state… Whether states are small or big, whether they have more population or less, it was not about depriving anyone. But the Congress and its allies committed ‘bhrun hatya’ (foeticide) of this honest attempt in front of the whole nation,” Modi said.
“Parties like the Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK and TMC are the perpetrators of this act. Through their petty politics they have committed an offence against the Constitution and against the womanhood of this country,” Modi charged.
“The women of this nation, whenever they encounter these leaders in their own neighbourhoods, will remember what they did. They will remember that these are the very individuals who celebrated and rejoiced in the halls of Parliament when the hope for women’s reservation was extinguished,” Modi said.
The government needed a two-thirds majority (352 votes) to get the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, passed, but fell short by more than 50. While 298 MPs voting in its favour, 230 said ‘no’.
‘Will remove all obstacles’
However, Modi was in no mood to concede defeat.
“Yesterday, we didn’t have the strength, but that doesn’t mean we lost. We didn’t get the 66% support but I believe I e have 100% support of women across the country. I assure every woman in the country that we will remove all obstacles in the path of women’s reservation,” Modi vowed.
Though he took aim at all leading Opposition parties, he singled out the Congress, calling it ‘anti-reform’ and full of ‘negativity’.
‘Anti-reform Congress’
“Several other countries attained independence along with us. Most of the countries have gone much further ahead of us. The reason behind this is that Congress stopped all reforms. ‘Latkana, bhatkana, atkana’ has always been the principle and work culture of Congress. It stalled border issues with neighbouring countries. It stalled water disputes with Pakistan. It stalled OBC reservation decision for 40 years. It stalled One Rank One Pension for 40 years. This attitude of Congress has always harmed the country,” Modi said.
“The country has suffered due to all the opposition, indecisiveness and deceit by Congress. All big challenges before the country today were born out of this conduct by the Congress. So, this fight is not just about a law; it is about the anti-reform mindset of Congress… I have no doubt that women of the country will give a befitting reply to this mindset of Congress.”
