NEW DELHI, Apr 16: In a light-hearted exchange, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday told Home Minister Amit Shah that if Chanakya were alive today, he would have been surprised by the BJP leader’s “political shrewdness”.
Speaking during a debate in the Lok Sabha on three bills related to amendments in the women’s quota law and the formation of a delimitation commission, Priyanka Gandhi accused the government of attempting to “mislead” the public and launching what she called an “attack on the country’s democratic framework”.
She said that while there is much discussion on women’s reservation, the rights of OBCs are being undermined. According to her, a system is being created for upcoming elections by reducing the influence of smaller states and weakening democratic structures.
“The Home Minister is smiling… he has designed the entire plan. If Chanakya were alive, he would have been surprised by your political shrewdness (‘rajnaitik kutilta’). He has made the plan and is now smiling, which means he agrees with me,” she remarked.
Priyanka Gandhi further alleged that the government brought the bills in a hurried manner during the parliamentary session, without proper consultation or all-party discussion, and shared drafts only shortly before the debate, limiting opposition scrutiny.
She also claimed that a narrative was built in the media projecting the Prime Minister as taking a major step for women’s empowerment, placing the opposition in a difficult position.
“It is one thing to be politically strategic, but another to take decisions in the national interest while setting aside the desire to remain in power,” she said.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she added that the BJP often portrays itself as the sole champion of women’s reservation, but in reality, women are capable of recognising attempts at misdirection.
Providing historical context, the Congress MP said the party has consistently supported women’s representation in legislatures. She referred to the 2023 passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, stating that Congress backed it in line with its ideology.
She also highlighted contributions from the Nehru-Gandhi era, saying that Motilal Nehru’s 1928 report and the 1931 Karachi session under Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel laid early foundations for fundamental rights and gender equality in India.
She added that the principle of “One Vote, One Citizen, One Value” ensured women’s voting rights from the beginning of independence, unlike many countries where women had to wait decades for suffrage. (Agencies)
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