New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, April 18, 2026, launched a blistering attack on the Congress and its allies following the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. Addressing the nation, the Prime Minister accused the Opposition of “killing the government’s honest attempt to secure women’s political rights in the foetus.” Despite the legislative setback, where the Bill failed to secure the mandatory two-thirds majority, the PM assured the women of India that the reservation agenda remains a priority and its implementation is now only “a matter of time.”
The Prime Minister expressed deep collective anguish, stating that the “dynastic and family-based parties” of the INDIA bloc—specifically naming the Congress, DMK, TMC, and Samajwadi Party—opposed the Bill out of fear. He alleged that these parties are insecure about emerging women leaders and do not want anyone from outside their own political families to rise. Modi further criticised the Opposition for celebrating the Bill’s failure, remarking that their desk-thumping in Parliament was not a victory but an “assault on the dignity and self-respect of Indian women.”
Rejecting the Opposition’s claims that the proposed expansion to 850 Lok Sabha seats would disadvantage specific states, the Prime Minister labelled such arguments as “falsehoods.” He clarified that the amendment aimed to increase opportunities for every state, including Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala, without decreasing their proportional representation. Accusing the Congress of inheriting a “divide-and-rule” policy from the British, he stated that the Opposition prioritised selfish politics over a historic reform that would have operationalised the 33 percent quota by the 2029 elections.
