Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 17: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a nationwide campaign to project the Opposition as “anti-women” after the Constitution amendment bills related to women’s reservation were defeated in the Lok Sabha.

Soon after the defeat, BJP MPs staged a protest at Parliament’s Makar Dwar, raising slogans despite rain. Leaders of the NDA also held a meeting, chaired by party president JP Nadda, to decide the future course of action.

Speaking to reporters, BJP leader Nitin Nabin alleged that the Congress-led Opposition had exposed its “anti-women” stance. He said the government had made sincere efforts to pass the Bill, which could have significantly enhanced women’s rights.

“The prime minister made an attempt, and this day could have been historic. But the Opposition ensured that women were denied greater rights,” he said, adding that the party would now take the issue directly to the public.

Nabin said BJP leaders would reach out to women across the country to highlight the Opposition’s stand and warned that the political consequences would be felt in future elections.

The push for the Bill had seen active campaigning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met women achievers, wrote to women voters and appealed to MPs for support.

A senior minister indicated that the party expects political gains in the ongoing assembly elections and may use the issue as a key plank in the 2029 general elections. During the debate, Modi had remarked that the BJP stood to gain politically whether the Bill was passed or opposed.