Sri Vijaya Puram, Apr 19: Minister of State Mr. George Kurian addressed a press conference in Sri Vijaya Puram, underlining the Government’s commitment to women’s empowerment and inclusive representation, while criticizing the opposition for failing to support recent legislative efforts linked to women’s reservation.
Referring to the Women’s Reservation Bill, popularly known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (officially the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023), Mr. Kurian stated that the legislation is a historic step toward ensuring greater participation of women in legislative bodies. He noted that while the landmark Act was passed earlier, subsequent efforts and related legislative measures aimed at expanding representation have not received adequate support from opposition parties.
Mr. Kurian remarked that the opposition’s stance reflects a long-standing pattern of resistance to measures intended for the upliftment of women as well as Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). He stated that such opposition has persisted over several decades, including during earlier political periods such as the tenure of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Highlighting the potential impact of the Bill, the Minister said that it would significantly enhance political representation for women across the country. He added that regions such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands would also benefit from increased representation, with the possibility of parliamentary seats rising from one to two in the future through delimitation-linked processes.
The Minister further stated that the opposition’s approach indicates an “anti-women mindset” and criticized celebrations by certain sections following the failure to pass related measures. He emphasized that such actions delay long-pending reforms that are essential for gender justice and equitable representation.
Referring to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Kurian said that the Prime Minister has consistently advocated for consensus on the issue and has clearly stated that he does not seek personal credit for the legislation. Instead, the Prime Minister has urged all parties to come together to pass the measure in the larger interest of women’s rights, noting that the reform is long overdue.
Mr. Kurian also referred to past legislative approaches, including those from the 1970s, which he said did not adequately address the concerns of women and marginalized communities.
The press conference was attended by several women leaders from the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, including State Vice President Sheela Singh and State President Anil Kumar Tiwari, who expressed support for the Government’s initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s participation in governance.
Mr. Kurian concluded by stating that the Government will continue to make sustained efforts to ensure the passage and effective implementation of measures related to the Women’s Reservation framework, emphasizing that advancing women’s rights remains a national priority.
