Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath criticised the Opposition in the State Assembly on Thursday for opposing the Women's Reservation Bill, accusing them of hindering women empowerment initiatives while later attempting to claim credit for them.
Addressing the Assembly, CM Yogi said, “Even a chameleon would blush at your conduct; if you are advocating for a 33% quota today, then why did you oppose it in Parliament?” He added that the Assembly had witnessed the Opposition’s “anti-women conduct”.
He also stated that the discussion had not yet begun in the House, yet the Opposition was already acting as obstacles to women’s empowerment.
Referring to the bill’s passage, he said, “In 2023, we comprehensively ensured the passage of the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ (Women’s Reservation Bill) in the Parliament at the Centre.”
CM Yogi accused the Samajwadi Party, Congress, Trinamool Congress, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam of displaying an “anti-women mindset” during the Bill’s passage.
He said, “The conduct displayed by the SP, Congress, TMC, and DMK during that time serves as a stark demonstration of their anti-women mindset.”
Recalling previous criticisms of government schemes, he added, “In 2014, you engaged in a malicious propaganda campaign against the ‘Jan Dhan’ bank accounts.”
He stated, “You (Congress, Samajwadi Party and other opposition parties) oppose any progressive steps taken for the dignity, respect and upliftment of half the population. Your conduct was visible in the Lok Sabha on April 16 and 17. This House is witness to your anti-women conduct…”
CM Yogi criticised the Samajwadi Party’s reaction to incidents such as the murder of Raju Pal, saying, “How the Samajwadi Party bowed down before a goon, a mafia, when Raju Pal was murdered. You people could not even wipe the tears from Pooja Pal’s eyes. You divide society in the name of caste, but your sympathy is not really towards women, backward classes, or extremely backward classes. The State Guest House incident, the Pooja Pal case and many such examples are there…”
He took aim at past financial assistance practices, stating, “The Leader of the Opposition is, after all, a senior legislator; during your tenure, the financial assistance provided amounted to a mere Rs 300–and even that was riddled with corruption and commissions. It was Modi ji who, for the very first time, initiated the direct transfer of funds into everyone’s bank accounts.”
Finally, he referenced the 1995 Uttar Pradesh political episode, saying, “Everyone also remembers the infamous ‘Guest House Incident’ of 1995; everyone recalls the deplorable conduct the SP displayed toward a Dalit Chief Minister at that time. In contrast, the BJP extended its support–thereby honouring and upholding the dignity of a Dalit woman.”