Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee President Ajay Rai addressed a press conference at the party’s state office in Lucknow , launching a sharp critique of the Central government over the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The press briefing was attended by former MLA Louise Khurshid, Mita Gautam, Media Department Vice Chairman Manish Hindvi, and state spokesperson Shuchi Vishwas.
Opening the interaction, Ajay Rai presented a video clip of Narendra Modi from 2023, where he was seen congratulating the opposition on the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, followed by a 2026 address in which he allegedly blamed the Congress for delays. Rai claimed that the Prime Minister was “contradicting himself” and failing to maintain consistency on the issue.
He further alleged that the Centre deliberately linked the implementation of women’s reservation to delimitation, calling it a “calculated move” to delay its execution. According to Rai, the opposition recognised and resisted this approach, terming it a victory for democratic values and the constitutional framework.
Rai stated that when the Bill was passed in 2023, the Congress had demanded its immediate implementation. However, the government cited provisions related to census and delimitation as reasons for postponement. Referring to the party’s 2024 Lok Sabha election manifesto, he said the Congress had promised to enforce the constitutional amendment without delay if voted to power.
Highlighting the party’s historical commitment to women’s empowerment, Rai cited examples of women leaders associated with the Congress, including Annie Besant, Sucheta Kripalani, Indira Gandhi, Pratibha Patil, and Meira Kumar.
In a strongly worded remark, Rai also criticised the Prime Minister on personal and political grounds, alleging hypocrisy in his stance on women’s respect. He claimed that the public is increasingly recognising what he described as inconsistencies and would respond accordingly in the political arena.
The press conference reflected the Congress party’s continued attack on the Centre over women’s reservation and broader governance issues.
