Women’s Reservation a ‘Matter of Faith’, Not Just Law: Jitendra Singh Slams Opposition

BuzzBytes News Desk
Shimla, Apr 19: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said that women’s reservation is a matter of “faith and commitment” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that women-centric governance has been central to policy-making over the past decade.
Addressing a gathering, the Minister said the proposed Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam reflects the Bharatiya Janata Party’s core ideological commitment to women-led development and is not merely a legislative exercise.
“For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, women’s reservation is a matter of faith and commitment, not mere legislation,” he said, adding that women are now “active architects of India’s development journey.”
Highlighting key initiatives, Singh said that since 2014, governance has undergone a paradigm shift with women placed at the centre of policy planning and implementation. He cited flagship programmes such as the Swachh Bharat Mission and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, stating that these initiatives have improved dignity, safety, health and economic participation of women.
“What once seemed unconventional—like focusing on toilets for women—has translated into better health outcomes and enhanced dignity,” he said, recalling the Prime Minister’s 2014 Independence Day address.
He further noted that the Ujjwala scheme helped free women from hazardous indoor pollution, calling it a “structural transformation at the grassroots.”
The Minister also highlighted the increasing participation of women in civil services, STEM education, research and even combat roles in the armed forces, saying that India’s women have moved “from the margins to the mainstream, and now to leadership.”
Launching a sharp attack on the Congress and the opposition INDIA bloc, Singh accused them of obstructing the women’s reservation legislation.
“At a time when the nation was ready for this historic leap, the opposition chose obstruction over cooperation,” he said, terming their stance a “historic betrayal.”
He alleged that while Congress had spoken about women’s reservation for decades, it failed to implement it when in power.
“When a credible and constitutionally viable framework was presented, they resorted to procedural excuses. This exposes their lack of intent,” he said.
Singh also claimed that the BJP has already ensured 33 per cent representation for women within its organisational structure, promoting leadership based on merit and performance.
Expressing confidence in public sentiment, he said women across India are politically aware and will respond decisively.
“The women of India will not overlook this obstruction. This issue has the potential to become a nationwide movement,” he said.
Echoing similar views, BJP National Vice President and Rajya Sabha MP Saroj Pandey criticised the Congress leadership, alleging that women were reduced to a vote bank.
Taking a dig at Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Pandey said, “Slogans like ‘Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon’ ring hollow when the biggest legislative opportunity for women’s empowerment is abandoned.”
She termed the opposition’s stance as “insensitive” and disconnected from the aspirations of women.
Concluding, BJP leaders asserted that the contrast is clear—“on one side is a government committed to empowering women through policy and reform, and on the other is an opposition that has delayed and denied their rights.”
They expressed confidence that women voters across the country will recognise this distinction and respond accordingly in the democratic process.