Nidadavolu (Andhra Pradesh)

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said that the defeat of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha was an “unpardonable crime.”

Addressing an NDA rally at Nidadavolu in East Godavari district, he alleged that the bill was “defeated in a derogatory manner to undermine women’s confidence.”

“All women had high hopes. The bill was defeated in a derogatory manner to undermine their confidence. This is an unpardonable crime,” Naidu said.

Outlining the intent behind the bill, the TDP supremo said that greater representation of women in legislative bodies would ensure due respect, promote development, and strengthen justice.

He was addressing the rally to denounce the bill’s defeat in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Andhra Pradesh BJP president PVN Madhav accompanied him, along with NDA leaders and cadres from the TDP, Janasena, and BJP.

Calling the blocking of the bill in Parliament a “national betrayal” led by the Indian National Congress, Naidu described Friday as a “black day” in the history of Indian democracy.

“We believed that women would get 33 per cent reservation and that the dream would be fulfilled. We expected to see 33 per cent of women as public representatives in Parliament and the Assemblies,” he said.

He added that respecting women is part of Indian culture, but what transpired in Parliament was contrary to that belief. He also called on women to come forward and express their opposition to the bill’s defeat.

Naidu said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured that no injustice would be done to southern and smaller states.

“They stated that the number of Lok Sabha seats would increase by 50 per cent, and Andhra Pradesh would have benefited as well. However, opposition parties blocked the bill for political reasons,” he said.

He alleged that the parties opposing the bill could not tolerate women rising even within their own families.

“They harbour such attitudes. It is chauvinism. This must end—everyone is equal. If we do not respect our women, whom will we respect?” he said.

According to Naidu, the onus is on “all of us” to ensure that the leaders and parties that “betrayed” the bill lose their electoral deposits. “Only then will justice be done to women,” he added.

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Continuing his criticism, he said the movement that began with the rally would be taken to every household from the following day to raise awareness.

A Constitution Amendment Bill to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, along with an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats, was defeated in the Lower House on Friday for want of the required two-thirds majority.