Guwahati: NDA leadership led by BJP state president Dilip Saikia on Sunday slammed Congress and other Opposition parties for opposing the Nari Shakti Bandan Amendment Bill, 2026 in parliament on Friday, alleging that Congress opposed it for political gain and lacked genuine intent toward women’s empowerment.Criticising Congress for its stance, Saikia accused the party of spreading a “false narrative” by linking the bill to constituency delimitation. He clarified that the bill aimed to ensure equitable representation by increasing the number of constituencies in accordance with Article 82 of the Constitution, thereby guaranteeing fair participation for all.Saikia alleged that Congress obstructed the process under various frivolous pretexts, reflecting its apprehension toward women’s political empowerment. He further accused the party of engaging in divisive politics by raising irrelevant regional concerns and stalling the bill’s passage.“The Congress-led alliance has betrayed the women of this country, and they will not be forgiven,” Saikia said, adding that women would respond with strong resentment to what he described as an insult to their dignity.He also criticised the conduct of opposition members in parliament, alleging that their reaction after failing to secure a two-thirds majority for the bill was “inappropriate and unbecoming”. “This demonstrated Congress’s role as a barrier not only to women’s empowerment but also to national development,” he added.Referring to historical precedents, Saikia accused Congress of repeatedly opposing women’s rights, citing the Shah Bano case and the issue of triple talaq.He also referred to the Emergency imposed in 1975 under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as an example of Congress undermining democratic values, including curbing press freedom and imprisoning opposition leaders.Saikia argued that despite ruling for six decades, Congress failed to take substantive steps to enhance women’s political participation. In contrast, he credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 12-year tenure with introducing inclusive measures aimed at empowering women and integrating them into the nation’s development process.He announced that BJP and its allies will hold a massive Mahila Aakrosh campaign in Guwahati on April 23 against what he termed Congress party’s “anti-women policies”.The party also plans a series of statewide agitation programmes, including district-level press conferences, discussions, and outreach initiatives to engage women leaders across sectors and highlight what it alleges is Congress’s anti-women stance.Meanwhile, AGP leader Phani Bhushan Choudhury called upon women across the country to take to the streets and build a strong movement against what he described as Congress’s systematic political marginalisation.Similarly, BPF leader Charan Boro affirmed that his party would continue to work alongside BJP and AGP to secure justice for women.
