“Political parties have a habit of electing weak women,” says Mallikarjun Kharge

“The literacy rate of scheduled caste women is lower and therefore political parties have the habit of choosing weak women and will not choose those who are educated and can fight,” said Congress president and Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge.

Reacting to Mallikarjun Kharge’s comments, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said they have been authorized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She called President Droupadi Murmu an empowered woman.

“We respect the Leader of the Opposition, but making a strong statement that all parties elect women who are ineffective is absolutely unacceptable. We are all empowered by our party, Prime Minister. President Droupadi Murmu is a powerful woman…” Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

As the uproar grew, Mallikarjun Kharge tried to clarify, saying: “Women from the rear, ST are not getting the opportunities they are getting, this is what we are saying…”

Prime Minister Modi on the Women’s Reservation Act

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed Rajya Sabha and talked about the Women’s Reservation Bill. “…Today a bill has been introduced in the Lok Sabha. After discussion, it will come here too. Today we are taking an important step towards women empowerment…” he said.

Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Iran thanked Prime Minister Modi for the fate of women’s long struggle. “I would like to thank Prime Minister Modi for leading the long struggle of women to its destiny. The Women’s Reservation Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha, will define women’s leadership in our country… Prime Minister Modi announced the women-led development and the entire The world accepted it in the G20… This is a political ploy for the opposition because the Opposition and Congress did not give reservations to women even when they were in power…,” Irani told news agency ANI.

Updated: Sep 19, 2023 4:12 PM IST