Priyanka Gandhi Accuses Government of Misusing Women’s Reservation for Power Politics during the Press Conference

Image Source : Screen Grab | Video | @INCIndia CONGRESS

Dated 18th April 2026

News By Dr. B R Abdul Wajid

Editor in Chief

New Delhi | At a special Congress party briefing held at the AICC office in New Delhi, Congress General Secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressed the media and strongly criticised the central government over recent political developments related to the Women’s Reservation issue.

She said that the opposition has defeated what she described as the Modi government’s attempt to hold on to power in the name of women’s empowerment. She termed the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha as a victory for the Constitution, the nation and for the unity of the I.N.D.I.A. alliance.

Criticising the statements made by the Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah, she said their remarks clearly reflected the government’s intentions. She alleged that the government had planned a political strategy to gain power by using the issue of women’s reservation.

VIDEO | Highlights | Congress General Secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressing the media during the press conference at AICC Headquarters in New Delhi. Source : @INCIndia CONGRESS.

She further stated that the government wanted the opposition to support the bill in the name of women’s empowerment so that it could later carry out delimitation according to its own interests, without relying on caste-based census data. She claimed that the government intended to project the passage of the bill as its victory, and in case of failure, label the opposition as anti-women.

Priyanka Gandhi also said that the issue was not just about the Women’s Reservation Bill but mainly about delimitation. She stated that under such conditions, it was not possible for the opposition to support the government. She added that the unity of the opposition has shown that the government can be effectively challenged.

While addressing the media, she also said that that the Women’s Reservation Bill, which was passed unanimously in 2023, should now be implemented without delay to ensure proper representation for women. She emphasized that the entire opposition is ready to support women’s reservation.

She also alleged that the government is relying heavily on media publicity and PR, with large amounts of public money being spent. She said that while the Home Minister asked people to trust the government, public trust has already declined, and people of the country are aware of the reality.

VIDEO | Highlights | Congress General Secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressing the media during the press conference at AICC Headquarters in New Delhi. Source : @INCIndia CONGRESS.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the developments have clearly shown the strength of a united opposition and the importance of protecting democratic values. She asserted that the people of India are aware of the situation and will continue to support those who stand for the Constitution, transparency, and equal rights for all sections of society.

News By Dr. B R Abdul Wajid