Women quota debate highlights: BJP leaders burn Rahul Gandhi's effigy, two MPs detained during march to his residence

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Women quota debate live updates: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi-led government of passing the delimitation Bill while trying to use the women's reservation as "camouflage". The Congress leader said that the opposition defeated the "nefarious design"

"Yesterday in Parliament, they (BJP) proposed a women's Bill. The truth is that they were not trying to pass the Bill, they were trying to use the women's Bill as a camouflage to pass the delimitation Bill. They wanted to change the electoral map of India, reduce the number of seats and the representation that South India, small states and the Northeast get," Gandhi said at a public rally in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli.

Women quota debate live updates: Delhi Police on Saturday detained BJP women MPs marching towards the residence of Rahul Gandhi in a protest against the women's quota bill after it failed to pass in Lok Sabha. Union Minister Raksha Khadse, BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj and Kamaljeet Sehrawat and other party leaders were detained by the police, ANI reported. The police also resorted to the use of water cannon to disperse the women's crowd heading towards Rahul Gandhi's residence.

Women quota debate live updates: Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar alleged that the Congress and the INDIA bloc have committed a "historic betrayal" of the South as they "killed" the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill which was meant to protect the southern states.

The Congress and its INDIA bloc shouted "South Pride" outside, but inside Parliament they killed the Bill, Sanjay Kumar, Union Minister of State for Home said. "Understand the danger. Once the freeze ends, seat redistribution can happen on population basis. States that controlled population, invested in education, and delivered development can be pushed back politically. That means Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other performing states face the risk of losing voice in Delhi," he said in a post on X.

Women quota debate live updates: While BJP leaders, including several party MPs, protested against Rahul Gandhi and even marched to his residence, the Congress leader was at a poll rally in Tamil Nadu.

While addressing a rally in Tiruchirappalli, Gandhi said that the women's quota bill was a “camouflage to pass the delimitation Bill.” Addressing the rally, he said, "Yesterday in Parliament, they (BJP) proposed a women's Bill. they were not trying to pass the Bill, they were trying to use it as a camouflage to pass the delimitation Bill. They wanted to change the electoral map of India, reduce the number of seats and the representation that South India, small states and the Northeast get... I am proud to say that the opposition worked together and defeated this nefarious design."

Women quota debate live updates: While BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj and Raksha Khadse were detained by Delhi Police, the protest march was participated by several BJP women leaders and workers. The BJP leaders staged a protest march near Rahul Gandhi's residence in Sunehri Bagh, following the defeat of the amendment to the women's quota law.

The protesters included BJP women MPs Hema Malini, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Bansuri Swaraj, Manju Sharma, and Vatsalya Gupta, according to PTI.

Women quota debate live updates: Union minister Raksha Khadse and BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj were detained by Delhi Police personnel during a protest march to the residence of Congress Rahul Gandhi, a day after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha.

Women quota debate live updates: Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta protested the non-passage of the Mahila Shakti Amendment Bill in Parliament by wearing a black armband at a summit in New Delhi. Terming it a "painful" development, Gupta slammed the Opposition parties for blocking the passage of the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Women quota debate live updates: The Congress on Saturday said its stand on the immediate implementation of women's reservation has remained consistent and alleged that the NDA government has "consistently flip-flopped" on the issue and is attempting to push through "insidious" changes to the country's polity.

Women quota debate live updates: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has accused the Centre of conspiring to change the federal structure of the country in the garb of women's reservation. She also asserted that the defeat of the women quota bill in Lok Sabha yesterday was a victory of opposition unity.

At a press conference in Delhi, Priyanka underlined that the opposition was not against reservation for women and would support the Women's Reservation Act, 2023, if the government sought to implement it on the current strength of the Lok Sabha.

Women quota debate live updates: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Saturday, concluding the Budget session that began on January 28. The session witnessed the passage of several key legislations, including The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, and The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026.

Women quota debate live updates: Former union minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani launched a sharp attack on the Opposition following the constitutional amendment bill’s failure in Parliament, accusing it of undermining women’s political aspirations.

“The women of the country were told that the Congress party has created a dream that holds the intention of securing political rights for women. What has become of that intention after 98 years was seen yesterday by women across the country in the nation's Parliament. The Congress party smiled, thumped desks, and celebrated politically yesterday as they crushed the aspirations of the nation’s political awakening. But for the BJP, this is not just a struggle for power; it is a fight for the right to equality.” she said during a press conference.

Women quota debate live updates: Reacting to developments in Parliament, LoP Rahul Gandhi said the government’s move to introduce a fresh bill — despite the women’s reservation law already being passed in 2023 — raised serious concerns.

"Hidden within it was the issue of delimitation, aimed at reducing the representation of Tamil Nadu and weakening southern, smaller, and northeastern states. We defeated that Bill yesterday in Parliament House," he added.

Women quota debate live updates: Responding to Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju pushed back against criticism of the women’s reservation move.

“If Rahul Gandhi says that giving reservation to women is unconstitutional and undemocratic then someone should make Rahul Gandhi understand that how it can be undemocratic to give rights to women. I can't reply on what kind of thinking he has.” he said.

Women quota debate live updates: After the conclusion of the Budget Session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the session was largely productive, even as the Constitution Amendment Bill failed to pass.

“The Budget Session has been concluded officially. It was a very productive Budget Session... The Union Budget was passed very successfully. Then, in the second session, the Prime Minister gave a statement on the crisis in West Asia, in both Houses. The Budget Session was extended for three days, April 16, 17, and 18. During these three-day special sittings, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and the Delimitation Amendment Bill were introduced. We have the majority, but we didn't get the two-thirds majority required for the Constitution Amendment, so this bill couldn't be passed. All other government bills were passed...” he said.

Women quota debate live updates: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor shared a light moment from Parliament after adjournment, even as he weighed in on the ongoing debate around women’s reservation and delimitation.

“A little post-adjournment gathering of Opposition MPs in the LokSabha with our charming Parliamentary Affairs Minister. When @KirenRijiju explained why he & his party were calling the Opposition ‘mahila virodhi’, it was pointed out to him that no one could ever call me anti-women! He conceded the point,” he posted on X.

Tharoor also underlined his support for greater representation of women, while cautioning against linking it to delimitation.

“Let’s face it, women are by far the better half of the species. They’re the improved models: Humans 2.0. They deserve representation in Parliament and in every institution. Just don’t link their advancement to a mischievous and potentially dangerous Delimitation that could devastate our democracy.”

Addressing a gathering in Tamil Nadu, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP and RSS of undermining the Constitution through their political messaging.

“When PM says one nation, one leader, one language, one people, he attacks the constitution on India,” he said, urging people to recognise what he described as the larger intent behind such ideas.

Rahul Gandhi was talking about woman quota bill and delimitation row, when he said, “please understand what the BJP-RSS are trying to do.”

Women quota debate live updates: Reacting to the ongoing row over the amendment bill, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the Opposition is willing to support the government if it moves ahead with implementing the women’s reservation law passed in 2023.

Women quota debate live updates: After the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut said the outcome had disheartened many women.

“All the women have become demotivated. However, we must place our trust in the Prime Minister. This bill is bound to be passed—if not today, then sooner or later.” she said while talking to reporters in Parliament premises.

Women quota debate live updates: Reacting to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failing to pass in the Lok Sabha, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj accused the Opposition of going back on its commitment and putting politics over women’s rights.

“Yesterday marked a dark day in India's history, where they (opposition) betrayed the nation's mothers. When this House unanimously passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Act bill, they made a promise. It was the day of fulfilment of that promise. But Congress and the entire opposition put their own political interests above all else and betrayed the mothers and sisters of this country... For those who repeatedly talk about delimitation, I would like to remind them that the opposition parties had given unanimous consent to invoke the delimitation as a condition in 2023. Yesterday, they withdrew their support... We will take this matter, the fraud that they have committed, to every person.” she said, ANI reported.

Women quota debate live updates: Reacting to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failing to pass in the Lok Sabha, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma launched a sharp attack on the Opposition, accusing it of undermining women’s rights.

“If this Opposition, which has effectively murdered the very idea of granting rights to women within a democracy, considers its victory to lie in insulting women, considers insulting women to be a victory, then it should certainly prepare itself for a massive defeat... In the entire history of Parliament, no Opposition could possibly commit a graver blunder than this...” he said, reported ANI.

Parliament session live updates: The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned sine die, bringing the session to a close with no fixed date announced for the next sitting.

Parliament session live updates: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday thanked members for their contribution towards the smooth and peaceful conduct of proceedings before adjourning the House sine die.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the House during the closing moments. After the rendition of Vande Mataram, the Speaker formally adjourned the Lower House indefinitely.

Parliament session live updates: Proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha began on Saturday, a day after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed to pass in the Lower House, triggering a sharp political face-off.

The Lok Sabha took up listed business for the day, while members returned to the House.

In the Rajya Sabha, proceedings also commenced with scheduled business, including the laying of papers related to a statutory resolution.

Parliament session live updates: After the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP KC Venugopal said the government must now move swiftly on implementing women’s reservation without linking it to delimitation.

“...We already unanimously passed the 2023 Women's Reservation Act... Now the government has to act immediately to implement the bill for the 2029 election... Their agenda to link the women's reservation with the delimitation failed yesterday... Because they want to do a delimitation according to their convenience... because of that shock, now they are telling all these stories...” he said, reported ANI.