Staff REPORTER
Itanagar, Apr 23: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Arunachal Pradesh unit, on Thursday organised a “Jan Mahila Aakrosh Pad Yatra” in the state capital, followed by a Mahila Sammelan, to express support for the proposed 33% Women’s Reservation Bill and criticise the Congress-led alliance for its reported opposition to the legislation.
The Pad Yatra commenced from the IG Park Tennis Court premises and concluded at Mopin-Solung Ground at Zero Point, drawing participation from a large number of women across Itanagar Capital Region. Members of self-help groups (SHGs), NGOs, and women from allied parties joined the rally, raising slogans and highlighting the need for greater representation of women in legislative bodies.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 which aimed to facilitate 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies, failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha earlier this month. BJP leaders alleged that opposition parties were responsible for the setback, a claim that formed the central theme of the protest.
Addressing the gathering, BJP State Mahila Morcha president Nabam Yahi Tad said the legislation represented a significant step towards empowering women by ensuring their participation in decision-making processes. She alleged that resistance to the Bill had led to widespread disappointment among women.
Launching a scathing attack on the Congress for the bill’s failure, State BJP general secretary Junty Singpho said the bill aimed to move beyond symbolic representation and provide substantive political space for women. She also clarified that implementation of the reservation framework is linked to the delimitation exercise based on Census data, which involves constitutional procedures.
Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) Mayor Likha Nari Tadar emphasised the need for equal opportunities for women in governance and public life, while accusing opposition parties of spreading confusion on the issue.
Speakers at the programme highlighted the importance of strengthening women’s participation in governance and called for consensus among political parties to ensure the passage of the Bill.
Representative of a regional party, Tendy Lomo, appealed for reintroduction of the Bill and urged lawmakers across party lines to support it in the interest of women’s empowerment.
Women & Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul also attended the programme and addressed the gathering, reiterating the government’s commitment to women-centric policies.
In his concluding remarks, BJP State president Kaling Moyong said the large turnout reflected public interest in the issue and underlined the need for continued dialogue on enhancing women’s representation in legislative institutions.
The programme concluded with participants calling for early passage and implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill, while reaffirming support for initiatives aimed at empowering women in the political sphere.