Debabrata Saikia, a senior Congress leader, on Sunday strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of using a recent public address to target the Congress and appeal to women voters ahead of elections.
According to the report, Saikia claimed that the Prime Minister’s remarks were part of a broader pattern of political speeches aimed at the opposition rather than addressing substantive issues. He said the current political atmosphere indicates a growing public focus on protecting democratic values, which he attributed to the Congress party’s position and legacy.
The Nazira constituency candidate further alleged that the Congress had opposed what he described as the BJP’s attempt to reinterpret constitutional provisions in the name of implementing the Women’s Reservation Bill. He pointed out that the law, passed in 2023, already lays out a clear framework—linking its implementation to the completion of a national census and subsequent delimitation, with rollout expected later in the decade.
Saikia also questioned the timing of raising the issue during election campaigning, calling it inappropriate and potentially misleading. He expressed concern over what he described as an attempt to influence women voters and added that institutions such as the Election Commission of India and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha should ensure that constitutional norms are maintained during the electoral process.
Taking his criticism further, Saikia also raised doubts about the BJP’s commitment to women’s empowerment, alleging that its ideological approach has historically not prioritised gender equality.
