Hyderabad: Hyderabad District Congress Committee (DCC) President Syed Khalid Saifullah on Monday accused the BJP of spreading “false propaganda” against the Congress on the Women’s Reservation Bill, asserting that the party has always supported and played a key role in advancing women’s empowerment.
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He was addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan along with Assembly constituency in-charges Rajesh Kumar Pulipati (Bahadurpura), B. Nagesh (Chandrayangutta), Mohammed Mujeebullah Shareef (Charminar), Shaik Akbar (Malakpet) and K. Ravi Raj (Yakutpura). He said the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in September 2023 with the support of the Congress and its allies, and alleged that the BJP deliberately delayed its implementation by linking it to Census and delimitation conditions.
Khalid Saifullah said that if the Centre had genuine intent, the 33 per cent reservation would have been implemented before the 2024 general elections. He claimed that the BJP is now attempting to project a delimitation exercise as a women’s reservation measure, which he described as misleading.
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The Hyderabad DCC chief also raised concerns over delimitation, stating that it could reduce the political representation of southern states. Citing population disparities, he said states like Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala would lose influence, while northern states would gain a disproportionate advantage.
Reiterating the party’s stand, Saifullah said the Congress always supported 33 per cent reservation for women. He said women’s reservation is not just a policy issue but a matter of equality, justice and empowerment.
Highlighting the Congress party’s track record, he said India’s first woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, first woman President Pratibha Patil, and several women Chief Ministers, Governors and mayors have come from the Congress. He also pointed out that leaders such as Annie Besant, Sarojini Naidu and Nellie Sengupta had served as Congress presidents, questioning the BJP to name a single woman who held a similar position in the party.
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The Congress leaders further noted that the party had introduced key reforms for women, including 33 per cent reservation in local bodies through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, as well as laws related to maternity benefits, domestic violence and workplace safety.
Criticising the BJP’s record, they alleged that the party has failed to ensure justice in several cases involving crimes against women and urged its leaders to focus on delivering justice rather than blaming the Congress.
The Congress leaders maintained that the party remains committed to women’s empowerment and demanded immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill without linking it to delimitation. They said the party would continue to oppose any move that undermines fair political representation, particularly of southern states.
Saifullah said the Congress would continue to stand for women’s rights and called upon the Centre to act with sincerity instead of “creating confusion” over the issue. (Maxim News)
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