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Congress accuses BJP of using Women's Reservation Bill for electoral gains
The Congress attacked the BJP for using the Women’s Reservation Bill to gain electoral mileage, accusing it of misleading the public. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu criticized double standards and protests as distractions, while Industry Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan framed the move as political theatrics lacking genuine empowerment.
Why It Matters
The dispute centers on how political actors frame and implement the Women's Reservation Bill, with potential electoral implications.
Timeline
2 Events
Chauhan accuses BJP of theatrics and questions record on women leadership
April 24, 2026
Industry minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said the BJP is indulging in theatrics in the name of women's reservation and trying to project itself as a well-wisher of women, though its intentions are not clear. He noted the bill, passed in 2023, had broad support including from Congress, and argued that political mileage is the aim rather than real empowerment. He questioned the BJP’s record in the state by asking how many women they have made state presidents, suggesting their commitment to women is only for show. He reiterated Congress’s commitment to genuine women empowerment and accused the BJP of diverting attention from core issues through political rhetoric.
Sukhu criticizes BJP and doubles standards
April 24, 2026
Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu intensified the criticism, alleging that the BJP practices double standards and orchestrates protests to divert public attention. He said the BJP's stance on the women's reservation bill was contradictory given Congress support for the legislation.