Mayor accuses Congress of blocking Women’s Reservation Bill

Nagpur: City mayor Neeta Thakre on Tuesday accused the Congress and other opposition parties of blocking the Women's Reservation Bill, saying the stand exposed their "real face" after the legislation failed to pass in Parliament.Addressing a press conference, Thakre said the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan 2026' Bill, which proposed 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, could not be passed due to opposition from Congress and allied parties. Thakre said the move denied women an opportunity to raise issues of common citizens in legislatures.She said women understand ground-level problems and their representation in Parliament and assemblies would have strengthened governance. She alleged that Congress "snatched away" this right from women by opposing the bill.The mayor also targeted women MPs from opposition parties, saying they failed to effectively present women's concerns in Parliament. Thakre said opposition leaders could not ensure passage of the bill despite claiming to support women's rights.Highlighting BJP's record, Thakre said the party has given significant responsibilities to women at the municipal level, reflecting its commitment to women's empowerment. Thakre said the party continues to prioritise women's participation in governance.