PM Modi Slams Opposition Over Women’s Reservation Bill Defeat, Calls It ‘Foeticide’ of Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment

New Delhi, April 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a strong attack on opposition parties after the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament. Terming the outcome a “foeticide” of the Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment, the Prime Minister accused the opposition of blocking a historic opportunity to empower women in Indian politics.

Addressing the nation a day after the Bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha, Modi said the legislation was never intended to take away anyone’s rights but to grant long-pending representation to women, who make up nearly half of India’s population. He stressed that the proposed amendment aimed to ensure women’s participation in decision-making bodies starting from the next general elections, removing barriers that have persisted for decades.

Describing the initiative as a noble and transformative effort, the Prime Minister likened it to a “Maha Yagna” carried out with sincerity and clear intent. He said the amendment was designed to open new avenues for women in 21st-century India, enabling them to rise freely by dismantling systemic obstacles.

Modi highlighted that the Bill would have integrated women as equal partners in India’s development journey, ensuring inclusivity across regions and communities. He added that it also addressed the need to proportionately increase representation from all states—north, south, east, and west—thereby strengthening the country’s federal structure and amplifying diverse voices in Parliament.

However, the Prime Minister expressed deep disappointment over the opposition’s stance, accusing parties such as the Indian National Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam of “brutally killing” the initiative both inside Parliament and in the public domain. He alleged that these parties acted against the spirit of the Constitution and the interests of women by obstructing the Bill’s passage.

According to Modi, the Congress has historically resisted women’s reservation and has repeatedly created hurdles whenever such measures were introduced. He claimed that even this time, opposition parties resorted to misleading arguments, diversionary tactics, and statistical debates to derail the legislation.

The Prime Minister said he had hoped the Congress would use this opportunity to correct its past stance and support the Bill, but expressed regret that the party “failed to rise to the occasion.” He added that the opposition’s actions have exposed their position before the women of the country.

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, required a two-thirds majority to pass in the Lok Sabha but fell short of the mark. The Bill received 298 votes in favour and 230 against, missing the required 352 votes. The legislation aimed to reserve one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women, fulfilling a long-standing demand pending for nearly four decades.

Modi said the defeat of the Bill was not just a political setback but a blow to the aspirations of millions of women across the country. He accused opposition parties of prioritising their organisational and political interests over national progress and women’s empowerment.

Expressing personal anguish over the outcome, the Prime Minister said it was painful to see the Bill being blocked and alleged that some opposition leaders even celebrated its defeat. He warned that women voters would remember this moment and hold those responsible accountable in future elections.

“Women of the country have taken note of who stood with them and who stood against them,” Modi said, adding that those who opposed the Bill have taken women for granted.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, Modi asserted that India’s progress cannot be complete without ensuring adequate representation of women in governance. He described the Bill as an attempt to finally grant women their rightful place in the nation’s democratic framework ahead of the 2029 general elections.

Echoing similar sentiments, Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, said that the defeat of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam should not be viewed as a setback for the government but as a significant loss for the nation caused by the opposition’s actions.

The Prime Minister concluded by reaffirming that the government would continue its efforts to advance women’s participation and empowerment, despite the current setback, signalling that the issue will remain central to its policy agenda in the coming years.