Bihar CM Slams Opposition Over Women’s Reservation Bill, Calls Lok Sabha Defeat a ‘Black Day’

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday criticised the opposition for refusing to back an amendment to the women’s reservation bill.

Speaking at a press conference at the BJP office, Choudhary described the fall of the Constitution amendment bill in the Lok Sabha as a "black day" and said "women's reservation was mocked by parties like Congress and TMC".

"I am addressing this press conference to assure mothers and sisters of Bihar that these opposition parties will have to pay for what they have done. Women workers of our party are going to hit the streets on the issue," he said.

State BJP president Sanjay Saraogi had on Saturday announced that the party’s women’s wing would take out an "aakrosh morcha" on Monday in protest against the opposition’s position on the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill.

While the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam — which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament — was passed with overwhelming support in 2023, the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill faced resistance from non-NDA parties. They raised concerns over the proposed linkage of quotas with delimitation, suspecting it could enable gerrymandering by the ruling BJP-led alliance.

Choudhary, who took office less than a week ago, pointed to Bihar’s existing 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats and local bodies, crediting the policy to his predecessor Nitish Kumar — who served as Chief Minister for two decades before moving to the Rajya Sabha — and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"In contrast, the Congress and its Bihar ally RJD, did nothing for women while these parties ruled Bihar. These parties follow in the footsteps of Pandit Nehru, who always tried to hinder progressive moves," the Chief Minister alleged, without offering further details.

(with PTI inputs)