“No More Pleading, It’s Time to Fight”: CM Rekha Gupta on Women’s Reservation

CM Rekha Gupta Targets Opposition’s ‘Technical Politics’ in Assembly Over Delay in Women’s Reservation

Opposition’s Anti-Women Mindset Denied Reservation to Women: CM Rekha Gupta

Modi Government Gave the Opportunity, Opposition Created Roadblocks: CM Rekha Gupta

New Delhi, April 2026 : Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta on Tuesday said the Centre had enacted the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 (Women’s Reservation Bill) to ensure 33 percent reservation for women in State Assemblies and the Lok Sabha, along with introducing the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill to facilitate its implementation at the earliest. Addressing a one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly, the Chief Minister said April 16, 17 and 18 would be remembered as a ‘sad chapter’ in the history of Indian democracy. During those days, women across the country were watching Parliament with hope that their 78-year-long wait for representation would finally end. However, the discussions held during that period only led to disappointment.

Why Women’s Reservation Is Essential

CM said women’s reservation is necessary because women face greater social barriers and challenges compared to men. In such a scenario, equal rights alone are not enough, special provisions are required to ensure equal opportunities. She noted that her own opportunity to serve the public came through reservation and public support. While women are elected in large numbers in panchayats and local bodies, their representation in State Assemblies and Parliament remains significantly low. Of nearly 4,600 MLAs in the country, only about 10 percent are women, while their representation in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is around 13-14 percent, reflecting a lack of adequate opportunities.

“Rights Were Given, Opportunities Were Not”

The Chief Minister said that although the Constitution granted women equal rights and the right to contest elections, this alone did not ensure their advancement, and they continued to be excluded from meaningful political opportunities. She pointed out that the Women’s Reservation Bill was introduced in Parliament seven times over 27 years but was blocked each time. Several political parties created obstacles and confined women to limited roles, whereas the BJP provided them opportunities to move forward.

A Shift After 2014

CM Rekha Gupta said women had long struggled against social evils such as female foeticide and child marriage, along with basic necessities. After 2014, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, there has been a significant shift towards women’s empowerment. Schemes related to sanitation, Ujjwala, Jal Jeevan Mission, Jan Dhan, Mudra and nutrition have played a key role in improving women’s quality of life, increasing access to basic facilities and making them more self-reliant.

Bill Stalled on ‘Technical Grounds’

She said the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 was a historic step towards granting 33 percent reservation to women. Recognising that procedural requirements such as delimitation could delay its implementation, the government proposed necessary amendments to expedite the process. However, opposition parties raised objections and used technical grounds to stall the Bill, which, she said, was a clear attempt to deny women their rights.

Not Just a Bill, but a Question of Dignity

The Chief Minister said the issue was not merely legislative but concerned the rights and dignity of half the country’s population. She noted that it is not easy for sitting male representatives to vacate their seats for women, which is why a framework was proposed to increase the total number of seats and ensure 33 percent reservation without displacing existing representatives. Such an arrangement, she said, would also benefit regional parties and ensure that southern states do not suffer any adverse impact.

Questions Over Opposition’s Stand

CM questioned why the opposition objected to a proposal that accounted for all stakeholders. She said opposition parties ignored women’s interests despite relying on their votes to gain power. She referred to the Shah Bano case, stating that when the court ruled in favour of a woman, the then Rajiv Gandhi government overturned the judgment through legislation, adversely affecting Muslim women’s rights. Similarly, she said, the opposition did not support the abolition of triple talaq.

On the demand for sub-quotas for OBC women, she termed it a ‘pretext’, noting that no concrete efforts had been made in this direction earlier. Various technical and political arguments ranging from seat counts (543 vs 850) to delimitation and regional balance were, she said, used to delay the Bill. She described it as ‘unfortunate’ that some parties celebrated after the Bill failed to pass, adding that the episode exposed a lack of sensitivity towards women among certain leaders and parties.

Criticism of ‘Insensitive’ Remarks

The Chief Minister said several leaders had made objectionable remarks about women from time to time, reflecting their mindset. She cited statements made by Digvijaya Singh, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Azam Khan, calling them indicative of a distorted outlook. She also expressed disappointment over remarks made by women leaders such as Mamata Banerjee and Priyanka Gandhi, saying such statements highlight contradictions in their stance. Society, especially women, would not forget such attitudes, she added.

Allegation of Misusing ‘Satyagraha’

CM Rekha Gupta said women often do not receive adequate opportunities in leadership and decision-making roles within many parties and are reduced to symbolic positions. Referring to the Aam Aadmi Party, she said its approach towards women was evident in its internal decisions. After Arvind Kejriwal’s imprisonment, there were attempts to appoint his wife as Chief Minister, and later Ms Atishi was given the responsibility, but allegedly not accorded due authority. She also mentioned issues recently raised publicly by Swati Maliwal, calling them serious and stating that they did not receive the expected sensitivity.

The Chief Minister criticised the use of the term ‘satyagraha’ to evade judicial processes, calling it a misuse of Mahatma Gandhi Ji’s ideology. She said presenting oneself above the law reflects a serious contradiction, and resistance to accepting judgments delivered by women judges points to a deeply ingrained anti-women mindset.

Rule of Law Must Prevail

She said such conduct disrupts legislative proceedings and reflects a ‘my will’ mindset, where individuals consider themselves above the law. “No one can become the accused, witness, lawyer and judge all at once,” she said, stressing that justice will only be delivered by the judiciary. She added that the public has been misled and that the consequences of actions will eventually emerge. Expressing sympathy for Atishi, she said the circumstances under which she is working are difficult and that her inability to speak may be due to certain constraints.

Gratitude to PM, ‘Beginning of a New Era’

CM Rekha Gupta, on behalf of women across the country, thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his consistent efforts towards women’s empowerment and his firm commitment to ensuring 33 percent reservation. She said this marks a significant moment in independent India, where a Prime Minister has openly stood for women’s rights. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam represents the beginning of a new era and a major step towards strengthening the democratic framework. She expressed confidence that greater participation of women in legislatures would lead to stronger policy-making and contribute significantly to national development.

‘Women Will Now Fight for Their Rights’

The Chief Minister said the time has come for women to stand up for their rights. “No more appeals this will now be a battle, a decisive struggle,” she said, adding that women have long witnessed tokenism and political manoeuvring without real justice. She said women across the country are now capable of fighting their own battles and are moving forward with unity. A single voice is emerging from all directions that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam must be implemented, and it will be implemented.