The political landscape in India is witness to an emotional outpouring following the failure of the Women’s Reservation Bill to pass in the Lok Sabha.
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation, expressing his disappointment and stating that the rejection of the bill was a significant setback for gender equality and women’s welfare. The Prime Minister’s address triggered immediate and sharp reactions from prominent women across the fields of politics, entertainment, and culture, who condemned the opposition’s role in the bill’s defeat.
Former Union Minister and actress Smriti Irani led the charge on social media, lambasting parties like the Congress, TMC, DMK, and SP for their behavior during the session. Irani pointed out the irony of these “family-based” parties celebrating the defeat of a proposal aimed at empowering ordinary women. She tweeted that while the welfare of women was being compromised, the opposition was “clapping with joy and thumping their desks,” a move she characterized as a blatant disregard for the progress of half the nation’s population.
The sentiment was echoed by Anupamaa star Rupali Ganguly, who described the event as a “betrayal of millions of women.” Ganguly emphasized that under the current leadership, strong strides toward empowerment had been made, and the bill was the logical next step for representation. She warned that women would not forget being denied their rightful place in the country’s legislative process.
Similarly, folk singer and Bihar MLA Maithili Thakur shared a poignant note while campaigning in Bengal, stating that her “heart ached” to witness the setback. She vowed that the voice of women would only grow louder in their pursuit of respect and security.
Prime Minister Modi, in his concluding remarks, accused the opposition of prioritizing “petty politics” over national welfare and spreading misinformation regarding delimitation.