Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – In a fiery address to the Lok Sabha, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal launched a scathing attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, accusing it of misleading the women of the country by introducing a reservation bill that, according to her, will take an unduly long time to come into effect.
Badal’s impassioned speech came during the debate on the Constitution amendment bill titled “Narishakti Vandan Adhiniyam-2023,” which seeks to reserve 33 percent of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. While participating in the debate, she questioned the BJP’s efficiency in implementing this crucial bill.
“You can do demonetization in hours, pass GST; why can’t you implement the women’s reservation bill in time for the next election?” Badal emphatically asked, drawing attention to the government’s track record of swift policy implementations in the past.
In her address, Badal also took aim at the BJP over the alleged involvement of its leaders in crimes against women. She expressed concern about the rising incidents of crime against women in the country, pointing out a 26 percent increase in such cases in the last five years.
Badal did not mince words as she criticized the government’s response to sensitive issues, referencing the recent incident in Manipur and the government’s delayed reaction. She also singled out a minister from Haryana who has been accused of sexual assault but continues to enjoy cabinet status.
Furthermore, Badal expressed her disappointment over the unresolved grievances of women wrestlers who have accused former Wrestling Federation of India president and MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment.
The Shiromani Akali Dal leader also criticized the remission granted to 11 men convicted for the gang rape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots. She pointed out that these convicts were hailed as ‘sanskari’ (cultured) and were felicitated on stage by BJP leaders.
Badal didn’t stop there, revealing startling statistics about criminal cases involving Members of Parliament. She claimed, “In this House, 306 MPs have criminal cases like rape, murder, and kidnapping, 45 percent are from the ruling party, and they talk about Beti Bachao,” highlighting the irony of such discussions while the legal status of many lawmakers remains questionable.
During her speech, Badal expressed her disappointment at the delayed introduction of the women’s reservation bill and questioned the secrecy surrounding the special session where the bill was presented. She wondered why the bill was not brought earlier during the BJP’s tenure, suggesting that the government had raised hopes only to dash them within 24 hours.
The Constitution amendment bill aiming to reserve seats for women in legislatures remains a pivotal issue in India’s ongoing political discourse, with Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s impassioned critique putting a spotlight on the urgency of its implementation.
