Rahul Gandhi targets the Centre over the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha

April 17, 2026

New Delhi: During the discussion on three bills in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the central government of pushing its own agenda in the name of the Women’s Reservation Bill.

He said, “This is not a Women’s Reservation Bill and has nothing to do with women’s empowerment. It is an attempt to change India’s electoral map under the guise of women’s rights. The Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in 2023; bring back that old bill, and we will support it.”

Expresses concern about representation
He said that women’s reservation is being used to bypass the caste census and deprive disadvantaged and OBC classes of their representation.

Calling it “shameful,” he said that the government is hiding its political intentions under the guise of reservation.

Allegations of political motives
Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government was trying to usurp their power and sideline their representation.

He said that the BJP, fearing a decline in its political power, was trying to change the country’s electoral structure.

“You have already done this in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, and now you are trying to implement it across the country,” he said.

Strong opposition from Congress
Raising the issue of a possible reduction in South India’s representation in the Lok Sabha, he said that the Congress would strongly oppose these bills and prevent their passage.

He also termed them “anti-national steps.”

Questions on OBC and Dalit representation
Rahul Gandhi asked the government where Dalits and OBCs are in the country’s bureaucracy, judiciary, private sector, and corporate sector.

“You call them Hindus but don’t give them space in the legislative framework,” he said, and strongly criticised the government on the issue.