Kolkata, Apr 19 (PTI) Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday termed the Trinamool Congress as “anti-women”, accusing it of “foiling” the efforts to pass the women’s reservation bill in Lok Sabha.
He claimed that there was no valid reason to oppose the bill.
Rijiju told a press meet that there should not have been any reason to oppose the bill by four-five parties, including TMC, Congress and now women of Bengal will “teach the TMC”, as they are angry with the stand of the party regarding the bill.
Countering the claims of TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Rijiju said the BJP had never imagined the bill would bring political dividends for the party, as all “we wanted was a very simple and transparent bill” aimed at substantially raising the number of representation of women.
“How can they cite excuses and reasons not to support the women’s bill?” he wondered.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Friday night after opposition parties voted against it.
Rijiju said increasing seats in the Houses “is a progressive step” and one must keep in mind the ratio behind the number of voters in a constituency and a people’s representative, which is not the same in India as compared to many other democracies in the West.
“The number of seats should be increased, and it would be double the existing number of seats in every state, as spelt out by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. There was no ambiguity in it, no hidden agenda,” he said.
A two-third majority was required for the passage of the crucial bill, but the BJP-led ruling alliance could not muster the numbers.
About the TMC’s charge that central agencies like ED, CBI, and IT become active during the poll season in West Bengal by conducting raids at the houses of TMC candidates, close aides and police officers, Rijiju said, “Any agency, any organisation can investigate any case of corruption, they have the authority. If you have grievances, you can approach the judiciary, and if there are any lacunae, you will get protection in the court.” About the arguments cited by Bannerjee and other TMC leaders regarding crime against women in other states, Rijiju said, “West Bengal used to be one of the safest places even a few years back, but now we hear about one incident after another. Thus, you cannot cover up the failure by pointing to issues in other states.” Describing the attitude of “CM as anti-women”, he said “one Rajya Sabha MP from TMC had resigned in protest against the state’s failure to ensure women’s security in 2024. And she (Banerjee) is shamelessly saying why women should go out at night,” while talking about a rape incident at a medical college in the state.
About TMC lodging a complaint against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for handing over weaver card during her recent visit to poll-bound Bengal, Rijiju said: “In a federal set-up, a state has to help in implementing the policies and projects of the Centre, not to oppose it for political reasons.” “Bizarre step taken by Mamata Banerjee. When the Union government takes any step, it is the duty of the state to help implement it. Nirmala Sitharaman is the first woman finance minister, and she has done exceedingly well. What they did to her is unfortunate,” he said.
About the BJP’s promise to project a ‘bhrastachar mukt sarkar’ in West Bengal, he said, “BJP has zero tolerance to corruption… Before 2014, during the Congress rule, there were tales of corruption every day as newspaper stories. Several MPs and ministers were embroiled in scams at that time.” “However, since 2014, not a single minister in the Modi cabinet is tainted by scam. In a similar way, in Bengal, when the BJP takes over, there will be zero corruption cases,” he said. PTI SUS RG
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