New Delhi, April 18 -- Former Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani on Saturday unleashed a scathing critique of the Opposition on Saturday, following the dramatic failure of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Speaking with ANI, Irani accused the unified Opposition of "crushing the aspirations" of Indian women and characterised their celebration of the Bill's defeat as a dark day for Indian democracy.

Irani took particular aim at the optics within the House after the vote, suggesting that the Opposition's rare show of unity was reserved specifically for blocking gender-based progress.

"Yesterday, the people of the country witnessed the opposition's celebration. An opposition that dared to defeat the politica...