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The discussion was held in the backdrop of the recent Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill failing to clear Parliament
The Leader of the Opposition and SP legislator Mata Prasad Pandey said that it was intriguing why an issue meant for Parliament was being discussed in the assembly. File pic/PTI
The special one-day session of the Uttar Pradesh assembly to discuss women’s empowerment saw the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party condemning the Samajwadi Party and Congress for their opposition to the “women’s reservation issue” in Parliament, while the rival parties criticised the BJP for discussing a bill meant for Parliament in the state assembly.
A day-long special session of the UP assembly was convened on Thursday to discuss women’s empowerment in the backdrop of the recent Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill being placed before Parliament. The bill, brought by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre promising reservation for women in electoral politics, was defeated by the opposition parties.
Leading the attack against the opposition on Wednesday was Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He lashed out at the Samajwadi Party, stating that they tried to divert the important issue of women’s empowerment and reservation for them in Parliament and the assembly by raising the issue of religious conversion.
He said that the BJP has always supported reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes but will not allow reservations based on religion.
He said that the country had to face partition in 1947 due to this mindset and that all political parties should rise above it and support national causes.
“We support ensuring the rights of OBCs, SCs and STs. But women should also be given more representation in politics. This bill was aimed at this. The opposition is trying to misguide the people by linking it with reservations for Muslims. It is aimed at dividing the country, and we will not let it happen. By raising the issue of Muslim reservation, the opposition is trying to divide the nation,” CM Yogi said.
Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Maurya and Brijesh Pathak also attacked the SP and Congress both within the assembly and outside it.
The Leader of the Opposition and SP legislator Mata Prasad Pandey said that it was intriguing why an issue meant for Parliament was being discussed in the assembly. “This issue was tabled in Parliament. The bill was brought before Parliament and defeated by the opposition. Why is it being discussed in the assembly? There is no logic,” said Pandey. He said that the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in 2023 by Parliament, yet the BJP was not going ahead with it and was trying to misguide people.
However, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Satish Mahana said that the assembly can discuss any issue with the permission of the Chair.
Several legislators, mostly women, participated in the discussion.
Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra Mona said that such an important issue cannot be discussed in a few hours and that more time should be given to the opposition to bring forth all the facts.
Later, the House was adjourned sine die after around six hours of discussion.
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