Amritsar-Punjab BJP spokesperson Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala stated that by opposing the Constitutional Amendment Bill providing 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, opposition parties have exposed their true anti-women face before the nation. He said this is not merely opposition to a bill, but a reflection of a mindset that seeks to deny rights to half of the country’s population.
He added that at a time when the BJP made sincere efforts to move forward with this historic bill, the opposition, out of political insecurity, opposed it—thereby proving that they are neither in favor of women’s rights nor committed to the nation’s future.
Prof. Khiala emphasized that women’s leadership brings sensitivity, morality, and foresight—qualities essential for taking the country to new heights. However, the opposition is not concerned about women’s empowerment; instead, they fear losing their political ground.
He remarked that the greatest tragedy is that the Shiromani Akali Dal—whose history is associated with fighting for women’s rights and which played a pioneering role in securing voting rights for Sikh women through the Sikh Gurdwara Act of 1925—has today abandoned the Sikh philosophy of equality for political gains. He said the Akali Dal has turned away from Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s message of equality, reflected in the line “So kyon manda aakhiye jit jammeh rajan”, and is instead promoting a self-serving political agenda.
Launching a sharp attack, Prof. Khiala said that it is deeply ironic that Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who rose to prominence under the slogan of “Nanhi Chhaan” (a campaign advocating dignity and love for daughters), stood in Parliament opposing women’s rights by resisting the Women’s Reservation Bill. He said this exposes the double standards of the Akali Dal, and the daughters of Punjab and women across the country will not forgive such betrayal.
He further stated that claims made by the Akali Dal and other opposition parties about damage to the federal structure are nothing but fear-driven and misleading propaganda. The Delimitation Commission is an independent body, and no government can interfere in its functioning. Increasing seats based on the 2011 Census would have strengthened women’s representation in the democratic system, not weakened it.
Prof. Khiala strongly criticized the Congress party, stating that despite being in power for six decades, it treated women merely as a vote bank. Even though the bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010, Congress lacked the courage to bring it to the Lok Sabha. This clearly shows that for Congress, power was more important than women’s rights.
He questioned why Congress, despite enjoying full majority for decades, failed to take concrete steps to increase women’s participation in Parliament. He said that while Congress remained focused on appeasement and political interests, the daughters of the country kept demanding their rights but were consistently ignored. He added that for Congress, women’s empowerment remained limited to promoting dynastic politics rather than ensuring real empowerment of half the population.
Prof. Khiala also pointed out that Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi had clearly stated that the opposition to the bill was aimed at preventing the BJP from coming to power in the future. He said that this anti-women mindset of the opposition will be remembered as a “black day” in history.
He concluded by stating that the BJP has always treated women’s empowerment not just as a policy but as a priority. The elevation of India’s first tribal woman President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, and Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman are living examples of this commitment. The party also ensures 33% representation for women within its organizational structure.
In conclusion, he said, “Respect for women’s power is the foundation of nation-building, and those who oppose it today will be remembered in history as symbols of anti-women ideology.”