Lucknow: Union minister Annpurna Devi on Sunday attacked opposition parties over their stance on the Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment Bill, saying Apr 17 would be remembered as a “black day” for opposing women’s empowerment.Addressing press at the BJP office here, she said under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, significant strides had been made since 2014 in ensuring economic and social empowerment of women, and govt was now taking concrete steps towards their political empowerment.She said debate in Parliament on Women’s Reservation Bill was meaningful, but accused opposition parties Congress, SP, TMC and DMK of hurting women’s aspirations by opposing the legislation. “They tried to delay, derail and block the bill,” she said.The minister asserted that women in India will respond democratically to those opposing their rights.Targeting Rahul Gandhi, she alleged that despite being in power for decades, Congress failed to ensure rights for OBCs. She credited NDA govt with granting constitutional status to the OBC Commission.She also accused SP of practising appeasement politics, stating that the Constitution does not permit reservation based on religion. Criticising leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, she said both he and Rahul Gandhi represent dynastic politics and are disconnected from public interest.
