Modi to address nation at 8.30 PM on Women's Quota Bill

 PM Modi will address the nation at 8.30 pm, a day after women's quota bill defeat

In Cabinet meeting held earlier today, the Prime Minister accused the Opposition of being "guilty" and acting against women by refusing to support the Women's Reservation Bill. He termed the Opposition's stance a mistake and warned it would have to pay a political price in the future.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters earlier, called the development a “big victory for democracy” and a “black day for the BJP,” pointing out that the ruling party at the Centre had suffered its first defeat in Parliament since taking the reins in 2014.

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A day after the women’s reservation bill failed the Lok Sabha test, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday described the developments as a “big victory for democracy,” asserting that the outcome reflected the strength of Opposition unity and dealt a blow to what she called the ruling side’s “conspiracy” to stay in power.

“What happened yesterday was a big victory for democracy,” she said while addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, adding that it was also “a victory against attempts to weaken the federal structure.”

"It's a Black Day for them (centre) because they've felt a shock for the first time, which they deserved," she added.

Priyanka said the impact of the outcome was visible on the faces of those in power, calling it “a victory for the Constitution and Opposition unity.”

She alleged that the government had orchestrated events with a larger political motive. According to her, “a whole conspiracy was hatched to remain in power,” and the sudden convening of the session was part of a plan to “somehow form a permanent government.”

The Congress leader suggested that the ruling side had positioned itself to claim credit regardless of the outcome. “They believed that if the bill was passed, it would be a win, and even if it was not passed, it would still be a win,” she said, adding that they had hoped to emerge as champions of women.

“But that is not so easy,” she added, arguing that the issue went beyond women’s reservations and was instead about “their freedom to act arbitrarily.”

On linking delimitation with the women’s quota bill, Priyanka Gandhi questioned how the Opposition could allow a government, which she said has no regard for institutions, to alter the number of Lok Sabha MPs on such a large scale in the name of providing reservations to women in Parliament and state assemblies.

Calling the development a setback for the ruling alliance, she said, “This is a black day for them because they have been jolted.”

She maintained that the Opposition was not against women’s reservation, but questioned the intent behind the current approach. “This was not really about women’s reservation; that is now clear,” she said, adding that women in the country can't be fooled.

Referring to past incidents, she added, “We have seen Unnao and Hathras. In Manipur, who spoke up for women?”-- suggesting that the government’s record did not match its claims.