Yogi Adityanath accuses Opposition of blocking women’s empowerment push led by Narendra Modi
April 19, 2026: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath strongly defended the Women’s Reservation Bill during a press conference, accusing the INDIA bloc of disrupting Parliament and undermining efforts to empower women. He said opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, TMC, and DMK, acted in a way that weakened initiatives led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expand women’s political representation.
Adityanath highlighted that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam aims to provide 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies without affecting existing rights. He added that the government has ensured fair representation through delimitation and future census data, while accusing the opposition of spreading confusion and attempting to divide the bill along communal lines, including raising questions about Muslim women’s representation.
He further alleged that the opposition has historically resisted key reforms for women, citing issues like triple talaq and the Shah Bano case. In contrast, he pointed to BJP-led welfare initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and the Kanya Sumangala Yojana in Uttar Pradesh, asserting that his government remains committed to promoting women’s welfare from birth through education and beyond.