‘Conspiracy defeated’: Priyanka Gandhi calls women’s bill failure a win for Constitution

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like New Delhi : Calling the defeat of the amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandhan Adhiniyam as a “victory of democracy”, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday accused the Centre of conspiring to change the federal structure of the country in the garb of women’s reservation. New Delhi, India - April 18, 2026: MP and AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra speaks during a press conference at the AICC office in New Delhi, India, on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by RAJ K RAJ / Hindustan Times) (RAJ K RAJ /HT PHOTO)She also hailed Opposition unity and said, “It was a victory for the Constitution, the country and the unity of the opposition. This was clearly visible on the faces of leaders from the ruling side,” she said. Addressing a press conference in the capital, a day after the bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha, Priyanka Gandhi emphasised that the Opposition was not against reservation for women. “Opposition not against reservation but the sole aim of the government behind bringing the Constitution amendment bill was to remain in power permanently. The people could see through its intentions,” she said. “What happened yesterday was a very significant victory for democracy. The government’s conspiracy to alter the federal structure and weaken democracy was defeated and stopped. The Modi-led government has received its first jolt and, therefore, it is calling it a ‘Black Day’. This jolt was very necessary,” she added. “When home minister Amit Shah was speaking in the Lok Sabha on Friday, he said the Congress will not be able to sit in the treasury benches for years, which shows their mindset... The whole conspiracy was to permanently stay in power.” Claiming the BJP has a history when it comes to women’s issues, Gandhi alleged that the ruling party wanted to avoid delimitation post the caste census. “This was being done by using women’s rights as an excuse. The government would have done delimitation according to its wishes,” she claimed. “The BJP wanted to do this to prove itself as the messiah of women. But it is not easy. We saw what happened to women in Hathras, what happened to our Olympic medallists,” she said.