India, April 29 -- A stormy special session of the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday witnessed sharp political confrontation as the House passed a censure motion against the Opposition over the recent defeat of the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta calling the episode "a black chapter of Indian democracy". Moving the motion, Gupta accused Opposition parties of indulging in "narrow political gains" and "conspiring" to block a historic opportunity for women's representation. "Women across the country were watching Parliament with hope that their 78-year-long wait would end. What happened instead was deeply disappointing," she said, adding, "It was a sad day and a black chapter of our democracy."
The Chief Minister asserted that the Centre, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had taken a decisive step through the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to ensure 33 percent reservation for women in legislatures. However, she alleged that the Opposition stalled its implementation on "technical grounds" to delay women's empowerment. "This is not just about a Bill, but about the dignity and rights of half the population," she said. Gupta also launched a sharp attack on Opposition leaders, stating that "those who speak of women's empowerment step back when it is time to act." Targeting Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, she remarked, "Priyanka Gandhi gave the 'Ladki Hun Lad Sakti Hun' slogan, and herself ran away when women were fighting for their rights." Also Read - Relief: DJB plans 250 school water ATMs The session saw high drama as AAP members walked out, alleging they were not allowed to speak freely. Speaker Vijender Gupta rejected the charge, saying every member was given time and that the Opposition "created drama" to avoid listening to ruling party members. In a symbolic gesture, BJP MLA Shikha Roy was invited by Speaker Vijender Gupta to conduct proceedings for a brief period. Earlier, BJP MLAs, along with ministers, staged a protest inside the Assembly wearing black armbands. Health Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh said, "If there was genuine intent, the Opposition would have supported the Bill instead of creating excuses to Also Read - Zoo turns to cool tricks for animals derail it." He added, "This is not just about a Bill; it is about the dignity and rightful representation of crores of women." Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa termed the Opposition's stand a historic mistake, saying, "History will not forgive those who played politics with women's rights." He added that the Bill would have ensured representation for "our sisters and daughters" in key legislative bodies. Opposition members, however, hit back, questioning the BJP's record on women's leadership and alleging that the Bill was being used for electoral gains. They also raised concerns over issues such as delimitation and seat expansion. Also Read - L-G reviews NDMC heatwave plan Despite the heated exchanges, the ruling BJP pushed through the censure motion by voice vote, framing the debate as a larger battle over women's rights and political intent. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha after being voted down by opposition parties. The proposed legislation aimed to raise the total number of Lok Sabha seats from the existing 543 to as many as 816, in order to facilitate the implementation of women's reservation ahead of the 2029 general elections. This expansion was to be carried out through a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.