In a passionate speech,while addressing the nation,Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about the recent failure to pass the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Bill). Apologizing directly to the mothers, sisters, and daughters of India, the PM called the bill’s defeat a crushing blow to the dreams of the nation’s women.
The proposed law was meant to give women their fair share of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies in time for the 2029 elections. PM Modi described it as a great mission aimed at clearing hurdles and creating new opportunities for women in the 21st century. He said it was a genuine effort to make sure women play an equal role in India’s growth story.
The bill also tried to empower all states equally, no matter their size, population, or location. Sadly, it didn’t get the 66% majority needed to pass in Parliament.Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that although they may not have received 66% of the votes, they have the blessings of 100% of women.
He said the real fight is against what he called the negativity of the Indian National Congress.
PM Modi also stated that the Bill was never about taking credit, and that he had even said in Parliament he was ready to give credit to the Opposition.
He added that even if they did not have enough numbers yesterday, they will continue their fight.
The Prime Minister blamed the opposition parties for this failure, directly naming the Congress, DMK, TMC, and Samajwadi Party. He accused these “family-run” parties of putting their own political interests ahead of the country. He even claimed they celebrated the defeat of a law meant to help women. For PM Modi, this wasn’t just a lost vote in Parliament; he saw it as a direct attack on the pride and self-respect of Indian women.
Despite the setback, the PM promised that the BJP and NDA won’t back down. He reassured women that this isn’t the end of the road, and the government will keep fighting until all hurdles to their representation are cleared.
During his speech, PM Modi came down hard on the Congress party, painting them as a group that actively stands in the way of progress.
Here is a breakdown of his criticisms:
- Against Women’s Reservation: He said Congress has always hated the idea of reserving seats for women, constantly scheming to block any progress made on the issue.
- Spreading Lies: Modi accused Congress and its allies of misleading the public with lies—sometimes about voting numbers, other times about redrawing voting districts (delimitation)—just to stop the bill.
- Divide and Rule: He claimed Congress learned the “divide and rule” trick from the British and still uses it to create rifts among the people today.
- Afraid of New Leaders: The PM argued that family-run parties like Congress are scared that if ordinary women get political power, it will threaten their own family’s grip on leadership.
- Using Other Parties: He said Congress has lost its footing in most of the country and only survives by piggybacking on regional parties, while secretly plotting to keep those smaller parties from getting too strong.
- Against Reforms: Calling them an “anti-reform party,” Modi said Congress has a long history of negative politics and blocking steps needed to modernize India.
A Track Record of Blocking Progress: He pointed out several major initiatives that Congress has supposedly stood against over the years, including:
- Digital payments and the GST.
- Reservation for the poor in the general category.
- The law banning Triple Talaq.
- Removing Article 370 in Kashmir.
- The Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
- Holding “One Nation, One Election.”
- Cleaning up voter lists and removing illegal immigrants.
- Reforms to the Waqf Board.
Slowing Down Growth: Finally, he argued that Congress’s habit of “delaying and stalling” has held India back from reaching its true potential. He pointed to their past record of stalling border fixes, water-sharing agreements with Pakistan, OBC reservations, and pensions for veterans (OROP) for decades.