Dharamshala, April 22
Pradesh Congress Committee president and MLA Vinay Kumar on Tuesday said that the Congress has never opposed the Women’s Reservation Bill, clarifying that the party’s concern was related to the timing of its introduction without completion of the national census.
Addressing a press conference in Dharamshala, Kumar said there was no justification in bringing the bill before the census process was completed. He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party is politicizing the issue and attempting to mislead the public. Kumar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been blaming the opposition for the delay in the bill’s passage, which he termed incorrect. “The Congress was never against women’s reservation, is not against it, and will not oppose it in the future,” he said.
He added that while the party fully supports reservation for women, its effective implementation requires the completion of the census and the delimitation process. According to him, introducing the bill without these steps would amount to a political move rather than a substantive reform.
Kumar also accused the BJP of spreading misinformation against the opposition to influence public opinion. He reiterated that Congress supports greater participation of women in politics and governance.
Regarding party activities, Kumar said that senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will attend the Congress convention in Kangra on April 30. He added that party workers are enthusiastic about his visit, and preparations are underway for the event.
