India
oi-Swastika Sruti
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his address to the nation on the Women’s Reservation Bill.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee criticized PM Narendra Modi for allegedly misleading the nation about the Women’s Reservation Bill and linking it with delimitation for political motives. Banerjee clarified her party supports women’s representation but opposes the bill’s implementation strategy, citing concerns over federal democracy.
In a detailed post on X, Banerjee accused the Prime Minister of misleading the country and failing to present the full truth behind the controversy.
“TMC Has Always Supported Women’s Representation”
Banerjee made it clear that the Trinamool Congress has consistently supported women’s participation in politics. She highlighted that her party has one of the highest numbers of women representatives in both Parliament and the state legislature.
According to her, nearly 37.9% of TMC’s Lok Sabha MPs are women, while around 46% of its Rajya Sabha members are female.
She stressed that the party has never opposed women’s reservation and continues to support it strongly.
It is deeply unfortunate that the Prime Minister chose to mislead the nation rather than address it honestly.
Let me put this on record. Trinamool Congress has always championed higher political representation for women. We have the highest proportion of female elected…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 19, 2026“>
Opposition to Delimitation, Not Women’s Quota
The Chief Minister clarified that her party’s opposition was not to the idea of women’s reservation but to the way it was being linked with delimitation.
She accused the central government of using the women’s quota as a cover to push a larger political agenda. According to her, the delimitation exercise could change political boundaries in a way that benefits BJP-ruled states while reducing the representation of others.
Banerjee described this as an attempt to weaken federal democracy and said such changes could divide the country and disturb the balance of power.
Questions Raised on Timing of the Bill
Banerjee also questioned why the government waited nearly three years after passing the
Women’s Reservation Bill in 2023 to take action.
She pointed out that the bill was brought up again at a time when several states are heading into elections. She asked why the government chose to link it with delimitation instead of implementing it independently.
According to her, if the government was truly committed to women’s empowerment, it could have acted earlier without combining it with other political processes.
Sharp Attack on PM Modi
In a strong statement, Banerjee accused the Prime Minister of avoiding accountability by not addressing the issue in Parliament.
She said that such matters should be discussed openly in the House, where leaders can question and debate. She also used strong words to criticise the government’s approach, calling it hypocritical and politically motivated.
Political Tensions Rise
Banerjee’s remarks come at a time when tensions between the ruling party and the opposition are high over the failed Women’s Reservation and Delimitation Bill.
While the government has accused the opposition of blocking women’s rights, opposition leaders argue that their concerns are about protecting the Constitution and maintaining fairness in representation.
The debate over the Women’s Reservation Bill has now moved beyond Parliament into the political arena, with leaders exchanging sharp statements. Mamata Banerjee’s response highlights the opposition’s stand that the issue is not about opposing women’s rights, but about how the policy is being implemented.
