Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of betraying women in West Bengal by opposing the 33% women’s reservation initiative. He made the remarks while addressing a BJP campaign meeting in Bankura, with the state heading into a two-phase Assembly election for its 294 constituencies.
Modi said women in West Bengal wanted 33% reservation and that he was committed to fulfilling that demand. He stated that the BJP wanted the women’s reservation law to be implemented in 2029.
Alleging that TMC did not want women to become MLAs and MPs, Modi claimed the party joined hands with the Congress and ensured the women’s reservation bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha. He said this amounted to a major betrayal of the state’s “sisters” and accused the party of cheating them again.
He further alleged that TMC was conspiring to keep tribal women out of politics. Modi said the BJP had made a tribal woman President for the first time, and claimed TMC tried to undermine that as well.
Referring to President Droupadi Murmu’s recent visit to West Bengal, Modi alleged that TMC had insulted her, and said voters would respond in the upcoming election.
