Bengaluru, April 25 Women from across the state took part in a protest organised by Bengaluru's “Nari Shakti Forum” at Freedom Park on Saturday against the Congress and INDIA alliance parties, accusing them of blocking the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill, recently introduced in Parliament.
Addressing the protest, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje said that women should get greater representation in the State Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha and must be given the opportunity to participate in law-making.
She stated that the central government had moved forward with the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill with this objective.
She said that laws required for the country are framed in the Lok Sabha, and women must have a decisive role in shaping policies.
However, she alleged that Congress and its allies did not support the Bill, leading to its failure.
Karandlaje said that PM Modi had envisioned a stronger voice for women in Parliament and State Assemblies and wanted to see an increase in the number of women Members of the Legislative Assembly across states.
She highlighted that women leaders have been given significant responsibilities under the current government.
Nirmala Sitharaman is serving as the Finance Minister and had earlier held the Defence portfolio.
She added that India has emerged as one of the world’s leading economic powers and that women today are piloting fighter jets and even leading major operations.
She stressed that women’s voices gain strength through education and respect, and that financial independence further strengthens their participation in policymaking, which would further strengthen governance.
She said the central government has implemented several schemes to empower women economically, noting that women are now even involved in drone manufacturing.
Responding to potential criticism from Congress, she said that earlier proposals for women’s reservation were limited to the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats.
However, the present Bill aims to increase the number of seats rather than reduce men’s representation.
She also pointed out that Congress has been insisting on delimitation after a census, but warned that such a move could reduce the number of seats for southern states.
Therefore, she said, the Bill was designed to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats in each state by up to 50 per cent.
Former State Women’s Commission Chairperson and advocate C. Manjula, who also spoke at the event, said that women’s power has grown significantly and called for a large-scale movement.
She said that if women rise strongly, leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi should feel the impact.
She added that women in Bengaluru are not just office professionals but are capable of rising up against injustice.
“Indian women are not just flowers, they are flames,” she said, calling for women’s power to become a national force.
She alleged that the Congress had insulted women by opposing the Women’s Reservation Bill and said that a public movement was necessary to express anger against the party.
She urged women to unite and raise their voices in support of the Bill, adding that continued protests were needed against what she termed as irresponsible politics by the Congress.
Padma Shri awardee S.G. Sushilamma, founder of Sumangali Seva Ashram, also addressed the gathering.
She said that women today are better educated and more aware, and therefore deserve greater representation in legislative bodies.
She criticised the Congress for not supporting the Bill and called for united action against the party.
--IANS
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