Guwahati, Apr 20: Assam BJP president and Darrang-Udalguri MP Dilip Saikia on Sunday announced that the party will launch a statewide ‘Mahila Aakrosh’ campaign on April 23 against the Congress, accusing it of pursuing “anti-women policies.”
Addressing a press conference, Saikia said the campaign would include district-level press meets, discussions, and outreach initiatives to mobilize women leaders across sectors. He alleged that Congress had opposed the “Nari Shakti Bandan Amendment Bill, 2026” in Parliament by linking it to constituency delimitation, calling this a “false narrative” aimed at stalling women’s political empowerment.
Saikia clarified that the bill sought to ensure equitable representation by expanding constituencies in line with Article 82 of the Constitution, thereby guaranteeing fair participation. He accused Congress of obstructing the process under “frivolous pretexts” and claimed its opposition reflected apprehension toward women’s empowerment.
“The Congress-led alliance has betrayed the women of this country, and they will not be forgiven,” Saikia asserted, adding that women would respond with strong resentment to what he described as an insult to their dignity.
He further argued that despite ruling for six decades, Congress failed to take substantive steps to enhance women’s political participation, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure had introduced inclusive measures to integrate women into the nation’s development process.
The BJP also criticized opposition parties’ conduct in Parliament after the bill failed to secure a two-thirds majority, calling their reaction “inappropriate and unbecoming.” Saikia accused Congress of historically opposing women’s rights, citing the Shah Bano case, triple talaq, and the Emergency of 1975 as examples of undermining democratic values and women’s dignity.
