Smriti Irani Urges Rahul Gandhi to Back Women's Reservation Bill

BJP National General Secretary Smriti Irani called on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to demonstrate his commitment to women by supporting the swift implementation of a bill providing 33% reservation for women in legislatures. Irani's challenge followed a 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' outreach program in Pune on August 22, where Gandhi urged women to "smash the patriarchy" and criticized the "Manusmriti mindset" for denying women independence.

Irani further urged Gandhi to organize a full rendition of the national song Vande Mataram at Congress headquarters, including verses invoking Goddess Durga. The Bharatiya Janata Party has previously characterized the Congress party's practice of singing only two stanzas of the song as an "insult."

While the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 was passed by Parliament, its implementation remains stalled. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on April 17.