Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge labels women’s reservation bill a gimmick during Chhattisgarh visit

Balodabazar-Bhatapara
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, during his visit to Balodabazar-Bhatapara in Chhattisgarh, criticized the Women’s Reservation Bill, calling it a mere gimmick. Kharge also raised concerns about alleged political interference and harassment faced by Congress leaders, highlighting the raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (IT) whenever Congress leaders are on the move.
Speaking at a farmers and laborers’ conference organized in Balodabazar, Kharge urged people not to succumb to fear and to stand up for their rights. He warned that giving in to fear would result in defeat and stressed that the Congress party is committed to working sincerely.
Kharge accused the BJP of failing to fulfill their promises. He mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s failure to provide reservations for women and jokingly suggested that they might be implemented in 2034 when neither he nor the Prime Minister would be around.
The Congress leader alleged that wherever Congress leaders visit, the offices of ED and IT face raids, insinuating political interference. He underscored the importance of conducting a caste census and extending women’s reservation benefits to backward classes.
Kharge also praised historical achievements of Congress leaders such as Mini Mata, Sarojini Naidu, and Pratibha Patil, while criticizing the BJP for imitating Congress policies.
Furthermore, he highlighted disparities in wealth distribution in India, emphasizing that 5% of the population owns 65% of the wealth, while 50% of the population has access to only 3% of it.
Kharge concluded by reminding the audience that the Women’s Reservation Bill is not a new concept, as the late Rajiv Gandhi had introduced a 33% reservation for women. He criticized the BJP for initially opposing this initiative and accused them of taking credit for it now.
In a final rallying call, Kharge emphasized that the Congress party is determined to fight for the rights of the people and stated that they will teach the BJP a lesson in the 2024 elections, as he accused the BJP of seeking to abolish the Constitution.