‘Nari Shakti Vandan’ Bill Undermines Ambedkar’s Vision of Social Justice – Gopal Tiwari

Congress Criticizes Government’s “Election-Driven” Politics

Pune, April 14:
On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, the Congress party launched a strong criticism of the central government’s policies. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress senior spokesperson Gopal Tiwari alleged that the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan’ Bill undermines the core objective of social equality envisioned by Dr. Ambedkar.

Tiwari stated that while the government claims to empower women through reservation, it has ignored adequate representation for backward classes, OBCs, and other marginalized sections. He argued that this move effectively sidelines the principles of social justice and equality championed by Dr. Ambedkar.

He further alleged that the bill was introduced with an eye on upcoming elections in states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, aiming to gain women’s sympathy. He specifically mentioned that it was politically targeted against Mamata Banerjee.

According to Tiwari, although the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan’ Bill was introduced in 2023, its implementation is scheduled only from 2029, as it depends on the completion of the Census and the delimitation process. Therefore, he criticized the government for not providing immediate benefits to women.

The Congress party reiterated its long-standing support for women’s reservation, highlighting that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had introduced 33% reservation for women in local self-government institutions.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi also raised concerns, stating that the government’s urgency in passing the bill was politically motivated. She emphasized that proper reservation must be ensured for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBC women within the broader framework.

Tiwari further accused the central government of attempting to avoid a caste-based census. He pointed out that while states like Bihar and Telangana completed such exercises within months, the central government continues to delay the process.

Providing historical context, Tiwari noted that during the tenure of former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, the Women’s Reservation Bill was first introduced in 1996. Later, under Manmohan Singh’s government, it was passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 despite significant opposition.

In conclusion, Congress emphasized that the delimitation of constituencies should not be merely numerical but must ensure political and social justice. It also stressed that southern states, which have performed well in literacy and population control, should not be disadvantaged in the process.