New Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has taken a political swipe at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks on women’s empowerment, questioning whether the Congress leader’s message signals a change in his approach.
Rahul Gandhi, in a social media video, stressed the need to bring women back into public conversations and give them greater freedom to pursue their ambitions. He argued that India cannot achieve its full potential unless women are able to express themselves freely and participate equally in society.
Responding to the remarks, Rijiju described the message as positive but questioned whether it represented a change of heart within the Congress. He also urged the party to support the Women’s Reservation Bill without attaching conditions to its implementation.
Gandhi quickly responded, pointing out that the Women’s Reservation Act, passed by Parliament in 2023 with support from the Congress, has already received unanimous approval. He questioned why the legislation has not yet been implemented and objected to linking its rollout with the delimitation exercise.
Gandhi called for the 2023 law to be implemented without conditions, while the Congress and other opposition parties have continued to oppose the proposed link between women’s reservation and delimitation.
The legislation provides for a 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. Its implementation is tied to the delimitation process, which is expected to determine the revised strength and boundaries of constituencies.
Gandhi’s comments came during a social media interaction in which he spoke about the need for greater freedom and participation for women across Indian society.
He said women’s empowerment should extend beyond representation in politics and success in business. According to Gandhi, women should also have the freedom to express their views at home, challenge social expectations and move through public spaces without restrictions.
He argued that rigid patriarchal attitudes continue to limit women’s potential and said India’s development would remain incomplete unless women are able to fully express themselves.
The exchange between Rijiju and Gandhi has once again brought the implementation of women’s reservation and the proposed delimitation process into the centre of the political debate.
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