Bhubaneswar/ New Delhi, April 18: Naveen Patnaik, the former Chief Minister of Odisha, BJD President, has criticized the BJP-led government after the defeat of the Constitutional Amendment Bill that sought to link women's reservation with delimitation based on the 2011 census. Patnaik, in a strong statement, reiterated that the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has always advocated for women’s empowerment and firmly opposed any reduction in Odisha’s political power through delimitation.
His comments came a day after the bill, which proposed to link the Women’s Reservation Bill to the Delimitation Bill, failed in the Lok Sabha. Patnaik accused the BJP of undermining Odisha’s rights, saying, “BJD has consistently championed women’s empowerment from the Panchayat level to Parliament. We will never accept any move that dilutes the political power of Odisha.”
Patnaik’s remarks also aimed the BJP’s silence on the issue, especially from the MPs representing Odisha. "The people of Odisha have witnessed who stood up for their rights. Not a single BJP MP from Odisha raised their voice against this injustice. By supporting the reduction of Odisha’s political power, the BJP has been exposed before the people," he stated. He further assured that the BJD would continue to fight for Odisha’s rights in the future.
On April 16, BJD MP Sasmit Patra had also reiterated the party's unwavering support for the Women’s Reservation Bill but expressed concerns over its link to the Delimitation Bill. Patra explained that while BJD strongly endorsed women's reservation, it was wary of the current constitutional amendment, which tied it to delimitation. He recalled that BJD Chief Naveen Patnaik had written to Odisha MPs, reminding them of the significant role played by Biju Patnaik in advancing women’s reservation in Panchayati Raj institutions.
The Women’s Reservation Bill, which seeks to ensure 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, was put to a vote along with the Delimitation Bill and Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. The amendment was defeated, with 298 members voting in favor and 230 against it. Following the defeat of the Constitutional Amendment Bill, the government announced it would not pursue the other two linked bills.
The BJD has emphasized its commitment to fighting for the rights of women and ensuring political representation for Odisha in national matters.
