'Women of this country will teach them a lesson,' BJP says after Constitution Amendment Bill fails; vows to continue push for 33% quota

New Delhi: The BJP on Saturday mounted a sharp offensive against the Congress after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed in the Lok Sabha, accusing the Opposition of "betraying" women and blocking 33% reservation in legislatures, while asserting that the fight for women's representation will continue.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju said the Congress had "exposed its anti-women mindset" by opposing the bill and "celebrating" the denial of political rights to women. "They are rejoicing after depriving women of their rightful place. Women of this country will teach them a lesson," he said, adding the government was disappointed but did not view the outcome as a failure.

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BJP leader Smriti Irani echoed the charge, accusing the Congress and its allies of "crushing the aspirations of ordinary women" despite decades of demand for reservation. She alleged Opposition leaders "smiled, thumped desks and celebrated" the bill's defeat, calling it a reflection of a "feudal mindset" that treats constitutional rights as favours rather than entitlements.

The bill, aimed at operationalising women's reservation ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, proposed expanding the Lower House from 543 to over 800 seats following delimitation based on the 2011 Census, along with similar expansion in state and Union Territory assemblies to accommodate a 33% quota for women.