Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday strongly criticised Opposition parties over their conduct during discussions on the Women’s Reservation Amendment Bill, accusing them of obstructing efforts aimed at advancing women’s empowerment.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Adityanath targeted parties aligned with the INDIA bloc, alleging that their behaviour in Parliament undermined a significant legislative push. He drew a sharp comparison between the Opposition’s conduct and the disrobing of Draupadi in the Mahabharata, questioning the language and approach adopted during the debate.

The Chief Minister also defended Narendra Modi, stating that the Prime Minister had assured southern states that their representation would not be reduced under the proposed framework. He added that the bill, intended to enhance women’s representation from 2029 onward, required unity across party lines, which he claimed the Opposition failed to demonstrate.

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Adityanath criticised the Samajwadi Party for advocating reservations for Muslim women, alleging that the move was driven by appeasement politics. He referenced the Shah Bano case and opposition to the Triple Talaq law to argue that Opposition parties had historically taken inconsistent positions on women’s rights.

He further claimed that there was widespread anger among women in Uttar Pradesh toward parties such as the Indian National Congress and the Samajwadi Party, asserting that they had failed to support meaningful reforms. He also referenced the 1995 guest house incident, suggesting that the Opposition had missed opportunities in the past to correct its course on issues concerning women.

Union Minister Annapurna Devi, who was present at the briefing, echoed similar sentiments. She described the Opposition’s stance as “anti-women” and claimed that blocking the bill had disappointed a large section of the population. Both leaders asserted that the legislation was part of a broader effort to strengthen women’s participation in governance and would remain a key political issue going forward.

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