Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Congress Accuses Modi of 'Dishonest' Women's Reservation Pitch
In India, there is a big argument about whether women should get more seats in the government.
On August 15, India's Independence Day, the country's leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave a speech at the Red Fort.
In his speech, he asked all political parties to give 33 percent of seats in Parliament and state assemblies to women.
He said this idea has been stuck in politics for 40 years.
The Indian National Congress, the main opposition party, was not happy with his speech.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Modi was being dishonest.
He said the law for women's reservation was passed in September 2023, but the government did not make it work for the 2024 elections.
Congress says it wants the reservation to start from the 2029 elections.
Congress also reminded people that women's reservation in local government began back in 1993.
Both parties say they want more women in government, but they disagree about who is responsible for the delay.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused PM Narendra Modi of making a 'dishonest pitch' for women's reservation in his Independence Day address at the Red Fort.
Ramesh noted that Parliament unanimously passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in September 2023, but the Modi government ensured it would not take effect from the 2024 elections.
Ramesh said the Adhiniyam was only notified hastily and silently late on the evening of April 16, 2026.
In his 13th address on the 80th Independence Day, Modi appealed to all political parties to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies.
Modi lamented that women's reservation has been a 'victim of politics' for 40 years and said political parties can claim credit for implementing the amendment Bill.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, the Indian National Congress, and the BJP-led central government
- What
- Congress accused Modi of making a 'dishonest' women's reservation pitch in his Independence Day address, while Modi appealed to all political parties to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies
- When
- Saturday, August 15, 2026, the 80th Independence Day, during Modi's 13th Independence Day address
- Where
- Red Fort, New Delhi, India
- Why
- To address the long-standing demand for 33 per cent women's reservation in Parliament and state assemblies, which Modi said has been 'trapped in the political arena' for 40 years
Congress Perspective
BJP/PM Modi Perspective
Delay in implementing women's reservation
Congress Perspective
Congress says the BJP government's 'double-faced hypocrisy' ensured the unanimously passed Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam would not come into effect from the 2024 elections, and it was only notified hastily and silently on April 16, 2026.
BJP/PM Modi Perspective
Modi says women's reservation has been 'trapped in the political arena' for the last 40 years and appeals to all political parties to come forward and implement 33 per cent reservation for women.
Origin and credit for women's reservation
Congress Perspective
Congress says women's reservation was introduced in the Constitution by the 73rd and 74th amendments passed in 1993, made possible by the vision and determination of Shri Rajiv Gandhi.
BJP/PM Modi Perspective
Modi highlights that his government passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament and says political parties can claim credit for implementing the women's reservation amendment Bill.
- Event
- 80th Independence Day address at the Red Fort
- PM's appeal
- 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies
- Legislation
- Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (women's reservation law)
- Passed
- September 2023, unanimously in Parliament
- Notified
- April 16, 2026
- Congress demand
- Implementation from 2029 Lok Sabha elections within the current strength of 543 seats
- Congress spokesperson
- Jairam Ramesh, general secretary
- Modi's address count
- 13th Independence Day address