Unity in Protest
A significant demonstration unfolded on the streets of Lucknow, uniting the entire BJP machinery in Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath spearheaded
a march, accompanied by a formidable contingent of cabinet ministers, deputy chief ministers, MLAs, and leaders from NDA allied parties such as Apna Dal, the Nishad Party, and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party. This show of solidarity was a direct response to the recent defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha, which aimed to institute 33% reservation for women in parliamentary and assembly elections, along with facilitating constituency delimitation. The saffron-clad Chief Minister, visibly leading the charge, set a strong tone for the event, emphasizing the ruling party's commitment to women's empowerment and its strong opposition to what it perceives as undemocratic and anti-women actions from the opposition.
Opposition Accusations
Addressing the crowd gathered outside the Assembly, Chief Minister Adityanath launched a vigorous critique of the opposition, specifically targeting the Samajwadi Party and the Congress. He declared, 'Be it Congress or Samajwadi Party, their character is undemocratic and their actions are anti-women.' This strong indictment directly linked the opposition's stance to the failure of the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, which needed a two-thirds majority to pass. The bill's defeat marked a significant setback, being the first time a bill under the current central government faced such a failure. Deputy Chief Ministers Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya echoed these sentiments, urging voters to reject parties that oppose women's empowerment in the 2027 elections and emphasizing the need to 'wipe out' the Samajwadi Party from the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh. Slogans and placards at the protest site, such as 'The identity of SP is disrespecting women' and 'SP stands against women’s power, and the public will not forgive it,' further amplified this message.
SP's Counter Narrative
In response to the BJP's accusations, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav articulated his party's position, asserting that their objections to the bill were not about opposing women's reservation in principle but stemmed from concerns regarding the 'haste' in implementing the delimitation process without a prior caste census. Yadav accused the BJP of using the women's reservation issue as a mere 'slogan' and engaging in 'divisive politics' through a 'CMF formula — create mistrust or fear.' He maintained that while the SP supports women's empowerment, the BJP's approach was politically motivated. The opposition, in turn, plans to pressure the state government to formally propose 33% women's reservation to the Center, rather than engaging in what they deem 'politics' over the issue, indicating a strategic shift in the debate following the bill's parliamentary defeat.
Government Initiatives
During the protest, Chief Minister Adityanath also highlighted various initiatives undertaken by both the central and state governments aimed at women's empowerment. He referenced schemes like the Swachh Bharat Mission, framing it not just as a cleanliness drive but as an endeavor to uphold women's dignity. Similarly, the Ujjwala scheme was presented as more than just fuel distribution, serving as a foundational step towards self-reliance and safeguarding women's health. These examples were used to underscore the ruling party's continuous efforts in uplifting women, contrasting with the opposition's alleged 'anti-women' stance. Beyond the march, the BJP is also organizing district-wide foot marches and a special one-day Assembly session dedicated to women's empowerment, further solidifying their political narrative on this issue.
