New Delhi: Several opposition leaders on Saturday, have strongly criticised Narendra Modi for describing the opposition bloc as “anti-women”, with senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh calling the Prime Minister’s address to the nation “partisan”.

Congress calls address ‘Partisan’

Ramesh, who serves as the communications in-charge of the Indian National Congress, said that a Prime Minister’s address to the nation carries a certain sanctity and is expected to be non-partisan, aimed at building national confidence.

He criticised the tone of the speech, saying it resembled a political attack rather than a unifying message. In a post on X, he described it as a “Distress Address rather than a National Address” and suggested that such remarks would have been more appropriate at a press conference.

Ramesh also launched a personal attack, stating that the Prime Minister had been unsettled by what he termed a legislative setback in the Lok Sabha and accused him of avoiding media scrutiny.

The Congress leader further argued that while the Prime Minister had apologised for the failure of the constitutional amendment, he should instead apologise for what Ramesh called attempts to push a delimitation proposal in the name of women.

He questioned the timing of the notification of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, pointing out that it was passed unanimously in September 2023 but notified only late on April 16, 2026, after a delay of 30 months.

Ramesh also criticised the Prime Minister’s remarks on women’s respect, calling them hypocritical.

TMC leaders join criticism

Leaders from the All India Trinamool Congress also voiced sharp reactions. MP Mahua Moitra described the Prime Minister’s address as “dramebaazi” in a post on X.

She stated that the women’s reservation legislation had already been passed in 2023 and notified recently, and argued that there was nothing preventing its immediate implementation, including allocating one-third of Lok Sabha seats to women.

Her party colleague Derek O'Brien alleged that the government was using women as a “decoy” to push forward a delimitation bill. In a social media post, he defined a decoy as something used to mislead or trick others.

Kharge targets PM’s priorities

Mallikarjun Kharge also criticised the Prime Minister’s speech, noting that the Congress was mentioned 59 times, while references to women were limited.

Kharge said this reflected the government’s priorities, adding that the focus appeared to be on attacking the Congress rather than addressing issues concerning women.

PM Modi’s remarks on Women’s Bill

The criticism follows the Prime Minister’s address to the nation, delivered a day after a Bill aimed at implementing women’s reservation in legislatures was defeated in the Lok Sabha.

In his speech, Modi said that opposition parties had “mercilessly crushed” the aspirations of women by blocking the legislation despite the government’s efforts.

He accused parties such as the Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party of engaging in self-serving politics at the cost of women’s representation.

The Prime Minister also said that opposing the Bill amounted to a serious wrongdoing and alleged that it disrespected the Constitution.

with agency inputs