A day after the Himachal Pradesh BJP held a 'padyatra' in Shimla protesting against opposition parties for voting against a constitutional amendment bill, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday questioned why the BJP did not raise its voice when the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) to the state was discontinued.
Speaking to reporters, Sukhu asked what the purpose of the BJP’s current protests was when the Women’s Reservation Bill had already been passed in 2023 with full support from the Congress party. He alleged that the protests show the BJP does not genuinely intend to implement the Women’s Reservation Bill.
“Why was the Act not implemented in 2023? Why is the BJP now claiming that the implementation will only take place after the delimitation exercise and an increase in the number of seats?” Sukhu asked. He said the BJP remained silent when Himachal Pradesh faced natural disasters and also failed to protest when the Revenue Deficit Grant was discontinued.
Sukhu added that the BJP had not staged any protest demanding the release of the Rs 1,500 crore relief package announced by the Prime Minister for the state. “The BJP is organising protests only to divert public attention and gain political mileage. Such actions go against the interests of Himachal Pradesh,” the Chief Minister said.
Earlier, BJP leaders had criticised opposition parties for voting against the constitutional amendment bill aimed at speeding up implementation of the women’s quota law. They accused the Congress of treating women merely as a vote bank instead of ensuring real empowerment. BJP state president Rajeev Bindal had on Thursday alleged that the Congress had betrayed the women of the country.
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