Bhubaneswar, Apr 21 (PTI) The BJP’s Odisha unit on Tuesday announced a series of agitation programmes, including a massive rally of women on April 22 to protest the stance of the Congress and its allies on women’s reservation.
Similar protests in various forms will also be held across districts between April 24 and April 29, Odisha BJP Mahila Morcha president Aishwarya Biswal said in a press conference here.
These programmes are part of the BJP’s nationwide protests following the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeking to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies from the 2029 parliamentary polls, in the Lower House of Parliament on April 17.
The Congress, on the other hand, alleged that the BJP is spreading misleading information regarding women’s reservation and alleged that it is not serious about implementing the 33 per cent quota “A huge Akorsh Yatra will be held in Bhubaneswar on April 22. Women from every section of the society will participate in it. More than 50,000 women will participate in this rally,” the Odisha BJP Mahila Morcha president said.
Small street corner meetings will also be held on this occasion, Biswal said.
Biswal said the “anti-women approach” of the opposition parties will be exposed through press conferences in every district and major cities of the state.
“On April 24 and 25, Akrosh Sammelan will be held in all the organisational districts of the state and from April 27 to 29, Akrosh Padayatra will be held in all the mandals of the state,” she said.
Debates and seminars will also be held in different colleges and universities to protest the alleged injustice done to women, the BJP leader said.
Meanwhile, at a separate press conference here, AICC spokesperson Mahima Singh ridiculed the saffron party over its agitation.
“The Bill was introduced by the BJP as a conspiracy against women’s empowerment. Their cry is not for women’s empowerment, but over the failure of that conspiracy. Ever since the defeat in Parliament, the Modi system is in a state of panic. So, the BJP is spreading false propaganda,” Singh alleged.
“On April 18, while addressing the nation on the taxpayer-funded channel Prasar Bharati, the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) not only violated the model code of conduct by mentioning the Congress 58 times in 29 minutes, but also demonstrated his state of fear. His anxiety was clearly visible,” she said.
She also demanded an apology from the Prime Minister over LPG scarcity, atrocities on women in Manipur and other parts of the country.
“The women know why the Bill was defeated,” she said.
In a video message, BJD senior general secretary (Women Affairs) Lekhashree Samantsinghar also alleged that the Constitution Amendment Bill was deceptively brought forward under the cover of the Women’s Reservation Bill. PTI AAM NN
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