The political atmosphere of the country has heated up after the Women’s Reservation Bill could not be passed. Launching a scathing attack on the Congress and the opposition, the BJP held a major protest in Delhi. Several senior BJP leaders and women MPs, along with their supporters, marched to the residence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Many MPs including Hema Malini and Bansuri Swaraj took part in this protest. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva was also present during this march. The party targeted the opposition by sharing posters with the words “traitor” on social media, and said that half of the country’s population will never forgive them for their actions.
#WATCH | Delhi: BJP women workers burn an effigy of Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi during their protest march to his residence, a day after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha. pic.twitter.com/bkvylI74X2
— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2026
Attack from streets to social media
The BJP ran a campaign on the issue that ranged from street protests to social media platforms. During the demonstration, the leaders waved black flags and expressed their protest by tying black bands on their foreheads. They held posters that accused the opposition of insulting “Nari Shakti” (women’s power). Leaders like Kamaljit Sehrawat, Manju Sharma, Yogita Singh and Lata Gupta also joined the protest. Speaking in unison, they termed the opposition as anti-women and held them responsible for preventing the bill from being passed. Delhi BJP chief Rekha Gupta also took part in this march. Raising slogans, they said, “We are not just flowers, we are sparks—we are the women of India… The country will not tolerate insult to its women.”
Half of the country’s population will never forgive these villains who stopped 33% reservation of women power! pic.twitter.com/6KM9kOSrUQ
— BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) April 18, 2026
statements of leaders
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also criticized the opposition on social media. Tamil Nadu leader Edappadi K. Echoing a statement by Palaniswami, she argued that the opposition’s political tactics have denied women the opportunity to get greater representation in Parliament and state legislatures. Congress, Rahul Gandhi and M.K. Taking aim at Stalin, he said his kind of politics had weakened women’s rights. According to him, this attitude may ultimately prove to be harmful rather than beneficial for the states.
Why could this bill not be passed?
The Constitution Amendment Bill (131st) proposed to give 33% reservation to women in Parliament and State Assemblies, which was to be implemented from 2026. This bill also included provisions to increase the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha. However, the bill failed to garner the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha. While 298 votes were cast in favor of the bill, 230 MPs voted against it. Thus, it fell short of the constitutional limit and could not be passed. The government says that this was a necessary step to increase the representation of women. On the contrary, the opposition alleges that the move was linked to delimitation and political expediency, raising questions about federal balance and the government’s intentions.
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