BJP govt in MP set for showdown with Oppn over women's quota in day-long session

Bhopal, April 26 (IANS) The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is set for a showdown with the Opposition as it seeks to champion women’s empowerment through a pivotal day-long session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday. 

The session is designed to mobilise public sentiment and formalise the state’s support for the “Nari Shakti Vandan Act”, a landmark legislative measure aimed at securing a 33 per cent reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and various state assemblies.

However, the Bill could not be taken forward recently as the Opposition opposed it, preventing the required consensus from being reached.

Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav lauded the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, characterising the initiative as a transformative step for the upliftment of women across the country.

He emphasised that the state government remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering sisters and daughters, noting that the upcoming session will serve as a platform to press the Opposition to acknowledge the urgency of this mandate.

The official agenda for Monday includes a resolution asserting that the all-round development of women and the recognition of their inherent strength necessitate the implementation of one-third reservation following the completion of the delimitation process.

This move is being framed as a natural extension of the state’s governing philosophy, which elevates the principle of “Nari Tu Narayani” from mere rhetoric to a cornerstone of grassroots policy.

According to official statements, women are no longer seen as passive beneficiaries but as the architects of destiny in a new Madhya Pradesh.

This shift has reportedly placed the state at the forefront of women-led development in India, anchored in the pursuit of economic self-reliance.

A primary example of this socio-economic transformation is the “Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana”, under which approximately ₹55,926 crore has been deposited directly into the bank accounts of over one crore women since mid-2023.

This monthly financial support is credited with bolstering the self-confidence of women in both rural and urban areas.

Further reinforcing this economic backbone are the 62 lakh rural women organised through self-help groups and the 12 lakh individuals who have surpassed the annual income threshold of Rs 1 lakh through the “Lakhpati Didi” campaign.

Additionally, the state has pledged significant investment support for women-led small and medium enterprises, offering nearly 50 per cent assistance on substantial capital investments.

However, this narrative of progress is being sharply contested by the Opposition.

In Bhopal, the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee organised an extensive foot march in the capital city to protest what it described as the anti-women policies of the current administration.

Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar accused the BJP and the RSS of engaging in political theatre rather than providing genuine representation.

He announced that the Congress Legislature Party intends to introduce its own resolution demanding the immediate implementation of the reservation for all 543 Lok Sabha seats without further delay.

State Congress President Jitu Patwari echoed these sentiments, urging the government to stop misleading the public and to take concrete steps towards empowerment by passing a unanimous resolution that sends a clear and positive message to the entire country.

--IANS

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