‘TMC betrayed Bengal’s sisters’: PM Modi slams Mamata govt over women’s bill defeat
Bankura: Prime Minister Narendra Modi intensified his electoral offensive against the Trinamool Congress on Sunday, accusing the party of "betraying" the nation’s women by obstructing the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, and predicting a retaliatory mandate in the forthcoming state assembly elections.
Speaking at a campaign rally in the Bankura district, the prime minister alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC collaborated with the Congress to block the legislation, which aimed to secure a 33% quota for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. He characterised the opposition as fundamentally "opposed to women's empowerment."
"We have seen how the TMC betrayed women in Parliament. The TMC conspired with the Congress to prevent the passage of the bill as it is against women's empowerment," Modi told the gathered crowd.
Empowerment and Accountability
The prime minister contrasted his party’s record with that of the state’s ruling administration, asserting that the BJP's core identity is centred on the safety and political advancement of women.
"The BJP's identity, on the other hand, is tied to women's empowerment, and their safety and security. That is why women across the country shower the BJP with their blessings," he said. He further emphasised his vision for a "developed India" where more women occupy leadership roles, lamenting that "West Bengal has seen once again how the TMC betrayed the state's sisters and daughters."
Modi warned that this perceived obstructionism would have electoral consequences, stating, "The TMC does not want women's empowerment and reservation. The women of West Bengal will punish it."
The legislative failure occurred on Friday when the bill, which proposed implementing the reservation before the 2029 general elections following a delimitation exercise based on 2011 Census data, fell short of the required majority in the Lok Sabha.
Critique of State Policy
The prime minister further accused the TMC of prioritising "politics of appeasement" over constitutional principles. He alleged that the ruling party facilitates illegal infiltration while simultaneously stifling women's representation and attempting to implement religion-based reservations.
"This is the same TMC which breaks every law and every rule to benefit infiltrators, but opposes women's empowerment," Modi said. "This is the same TMC which is engaged in providing reservations on the basis of religion. It is strangling the spirit of the Constitution."
To appeal to female voters, the prime minister pledged that a BJP-led state government would provide up to 150,000 rupees (Rs 1.5 lakh) to women under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for home construction.
Tribal Rights and Security
Turning to tribal issues, Modi claimed the TMC had demonstrated persistent disrespect toward tribal communities, citing the party's opposition to President Droupadi Murmu during the presidential election.
"The anti-tribal TMC insulted President Droupadi Murmu. Both the TMC and the Congress are anti-tribal. That is why they fielded a candidate against Droupadi Murmu," he asserted.
Closing his address with a stern warning regarding election-related violence, the prime minister declared that the upcoming polls would replace the "fear" (bhoy) of the TMC with "trust" (bharosa) in the BJP. He issued a final ultimatum to those engaged in political intimidation, stating, "I give one last opportunity to TMC's goons to surrender to police before polls as none would be spared after the results on May 4."
With inputs from PTI