New Delhi: Reacting strongly to the outcome of the Lok Sabha proceedings on the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, Dewesh Tiwari, Member of the State‑Level DISHA Committee (Jharkhand) under the Ministry of Rural Development, on Friday criticised opposition parties for not supporting the proposed 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
Speaking after the discussion on the bill, introduced to operationalise the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, Tiwari said the decision of parties such as the Congress, DMK, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party, and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) to withhold support had dealt a setback to women’s political empowerment.
According to Tiwari, the constitutional amendment was aimed at ensuring greater representation, dignity, and equal opportunity for women in legislative bodies. He said the bill went beyond party politics and reflected a broader commitment to social justice and democratic inclusion.
“The bill was an opportunity to translate decades of discussion on women’s rights into concrete constitutional reform,” Tiwari said in a statement, adding that the failure to support it had raised questions about the opposition’s intent on women’s empowerment.
Referring specifically to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Tiwari pointed to what he described as a contradiction between the party’s opposition to the bill and its emphasis on women‑focused welfare schemes in Jharkhand, including the ‘Maiya Yojana’. He said opposing a measure designed to increase women’s representation in Parliament and state assemblies undermined the stated commitment to women’s dignity.
Tiwari also recalled that debates around women’s reservation in Indian politics have historically faced repeated delays despite widespread acceptance of the principle. He said the developments in the Lok Sabha reflected a continuation of that pattern, where consensus has remained elusive even on issues with long‑term national importance.
Government leaders had earlier described the bill as a major step towards strengthening India’s democratic framework. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to all political parties to rise above partisan considerations and back the proposal in the larger interest of women’s empowerment.
Following the proceedings, leaders from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including Tiwari, reiterated that women’s reservation should be viewed as a constitutional and democratic imperative rather than a political contest. Tiwari said public scrutiny of the opposition’s position was likely to increase and insisted that accountability on the issue could not be avoided.
Despite the bill not progressing in the Lok Sabha, Tiwari asserted that the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment remained firm. He said efforts would continue to build wider consensus and ensure that women receive their rightful place in legislative decision‑making.