'Nothing to do with women empowerment': Rahul Gandhi drops '3 truths' on women's quota bill in Lok Sabha

Rahul Gandhi reasoned that the women's quota bill introduced in the house was different from the 2023 legislation and has nothing to do with women's reservation

Updated on: Apr 17, 2026, 22:00:47 IST

Written by Majid Alam

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday teared into the government over the women's reservation bill in Parliament and said the proposed legislation is an "attempt to change country's electoral map, while hiding behind India's women".

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi hit out at the government over women's quota bill. (AICC/ANI Photo) (AICC)

While speaking in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi reasoned that the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill introduced in the house was different from the one introduced in 2023 and has nothing to do with women's reservation.

“There are some truths that need to be told here today in this House. The first truth is that this is not women's bill. This is nothing to do with the empowerment of women,” Gandhi said while addressing the Lok Sabha.

Also Read: 'If you don't go into darkness...': Rahul Gandhi recalls lesson from grandmother Indira, hails women as ‘central force’

Seeking to draw a difference with the proposed 2023 law that sought one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, the Leader of the Opposition said, “There is a women's bill. It was passed in 2023 in this House itself. And my friends and teachers in the BJP said that it would be implemented in 10 years time. That is the women's bill. This is an attempt to change the electoral map of India.”

The Congress leader hit out at the government for what he claimed was “hiding behind India's women”. He further said the opposition leaders would support the government had it brought the women's reservation bill.

Also Read: 'Think of your mother, sister, daughter, wife': PM Modi's appeal on women quota amid questions over delimitation

“Instead of giving them women's reservation, which is very easy thing to do and every single opposition member will support it right now. Bring that old bill back right now and we will help you pass it for implementation from this second. That is the women's bill and this is something else,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi's '3 truths' on quota bill

Gandhi said that the agenda of the government was to bypass the caste and take away the power from the OBCs and deprived sections

“What they are trying to do is avoid giving power, giving representation to my OBC brothers and sisters and take away power from them. This is the agenda over here,” he said.

He alleged that the government is trying to make sure that the caste census has nothing to do with representation for the next 10-15 years.

He also said that the government is going to take away representation from South India, and added that the opposition won't allow the government to do so.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Majid Alam
Majid Alam is a Chief Content Producer working at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi. He currently heads shifts at online desk and manages homepage apart from writing, editing and curating articles. With over six years of experience in journalism, Majid has navigated national, politics and international news. His work primarily focuses on the politics of the Hindi heartland, government policies, and South Asia. He also writes on US and Europe’s policies vis-à-vis India. Before joining Hindustan Times, Majid worked at ABP LIVE as the Chief Copy Editor and at News18, where he managed the World and Explainers sections. His articles have featured in Dialogue Earth, The Quint, BMJ, The Diplomat, and Outlook India. Majid has a keen interest in the use of data for storytelling. Majid holds a Masters in Convergent Journalism from Jamia Millia Islamia. He was awarded the Erasmus+ scholarship to study International Affairs at Sciences Po, Paris in 2020. He is also part of the OCEANS Network, an alumni network of Erasmus+ exchange scholars. He is currently serving as the National Representative (India) at the OCEANS Network. Apart from journalism, Majid has a flair for academic writing and loves to teach. He has published a book chapter: 'Bombay Cinema and Postmodernism' in the book: 'Handbook of Research on Social and Cultural Dynamics in Indian Cinema.' He was also part of the OCEANS Network delegation to Hanoi National University of Education in Vietnam in 2025. He has also given guest lecture in digital journalism at AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.