Vinod Bhat
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), April 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused opposition parties of blocking women’s political representation, alleging that “family-run” parties fear losing control if grassroots women leaders rise to positions of power.
Addressing a gathering at a Mahila Samelan in Varanasi, Modi said such parties do not want women to enter legislative assemblies and Parliament. “They know that if daughters working on the ground reach the top, their control will weaken and their power will be questioned. That is why these parties have opposed it in Parliament,” he said, adding that women across the country have recognised their “intentions.”
The Prime Minister reiterated that women’s political participation was a key consideration behind the construction of the new Parliament building and highlighted the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Act in 2023 as an effort to address a decades-long gap in representation. He said the government had proposed a constitutional amendment to expedite the implementation of women’s reservation but alleged that parties such as the Congress, Samajwadi Party, TMC and DMK did not support it.
“This amendment would have enabled more women to enter assemblies and Parliament. But these parties have once again failed the women of the country,” he said, asserting that opposition groups are “afraid of women’s power.”
Referring to recent parliamentary proceedings, Modi said efforts to advance the proposal had not succeeded but vowed to continue pushing for its implementation. “I will leave no stone unturned to ensure that women get their rightful reservation,” he said.
On governance and safety, Modi contrasted the current BJP government in Uttar Pradesh with the previous Samajwadi Party regime, claiming that law and order has improved significantly. He said legal reforms, including provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, have strengthened the sense of security among women by enabling faster action in serious crimes.
The Prime Minister also pointed to welfare initiatives aimed at women, including the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, under which thousands of accounts have been opened for girls in Varanasi. He added that housing schemes have increasingly registered property in women’s names, contributing to their financial empowerment.
Citing voter participation, Modi said women had turned out in large numbers in recent assembly elections in states such as Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, suggesting this reflected their response to parties opposing reservation.
He also announced the expansion of women-focused infrastructure, including police stations and counselling centres, stating that work had begun on a new facility in Varanasi.
Reiterating the government’s “Nagrik Devo Bhava” approach, Modi said citizen welfare—covering education, income, healthcare and irrigation—remains a priority.
During the visit, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth around ₹6,350 crore in Varanasi.
