Agartala, May 1: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on April 30 accused opposition parties of routinely opposing key initiatives of the BJP-led NDA government, including measures aimed at advancing women’s empowerment.
Speaking during a special session of the Tripura Legislative Assembly themed “Nari Shakti Bandhan,” Saha said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working towards the development and protection of women across sectors.
He highlighted the Women’s Reservation Bill, which seeks to reserve 33 per cent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, describing it as a significant step towards achieving gender equality and meaningful empowerment. The legislation, formally known as the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, was passed during a special session of Parliament in 2023 after several decades of deliberation.
Saha alleged that opposition parties have consistently attempted to obstruct such initiatives and create confusion among the public whenever major legislative measures are introduced. He cited issues including the abrogation of Article 370, the Citizenship Amendment Act, the criminalisation of triple talaq, and the construction of the Ram Temple as examples.
Addressing concerns over the delimitation process linked to women’s reservation, the Chief Minister said seat allocation would be determined on the basis of population rather than regional considerations, dismissing apprehensions about any potential reduction in representation for the Northeast or southern states.
He also thanked members across party lines for participating in the discussion and expressed hope that there would be wider political consensus in support of women’s reservation measures.
