'We dare BJP to...': How Opposition reacted to PM Modi's 'poisonous' speech after women's quota bill defeat

Several Opposition leaders on Saturday launched fresh barbs online against PM Narendra Modi for his fiery speech that called them "anti-women" for blocking the passage of the constitutional amendment bill for women's reservation in the Lok Sabha a day earlier.

In a brief, but loaded, speech, none of the Opposition  parties were spared, as Modi attacked them for the "sin" of not standing for women's rights, which had left the women of the country "mercilessly crushed".

He had also stated that dynastic parties like the Congress and the DMK were too "selfish" to see the bill through, further accusing the national party of sabotaging important reforms throughout history.

Here is how the Opposition reacted to Modi's message to the nation:

"Clubbing delimitation with Women’s Reservation raises serious concerns both for women and for progressive states ... If women empowerment depends on delimitation, it’s not empowerment it’s postponement!" pointed out DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on X.

"His niyat (intention) is anything but saaf (clear). It is poisonous. If one were to investigate his niyat, one only has to ask why the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, passed unanimously way back in Sept 2023, was notified only late night on April 16, 2026, after a delay of 30 months. His talking of mahila samman (respect for women) is sheer hypocrisy (given) the way he has conducted himself throughout his life," wrote Congress' media chief, Jairam Ramesh, in a long post on X.

"The Indian National Congress challenges the Prime Minister to introduce a bill in Parliament tomorrow itself to implement women's reservation under the existing structure," he added in a follow-up post.

"Narendra, the worst form of insulting women is to have used them as a DECOY* to try and pass the Delimitation Bill," wrote TMC MP Derek O'Brien in a brief, but sharp, post on X.

"(PM Modi) turned an official address to the nation, into a political speech, full of mudslinging, and outright LIES. The Model Code of Conduct is already in place and it was very clear how PM Modi misused official machinery to attack his opponents. This is a travesty of Democracy and the Constitution of India," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge declared in an X post.

The IT Cell of the Samajwadi Party posted a video allegedly showing police officers allegedly mistreating one of its party workers, blaming it on the BJP government.

"The true face of the BJP government, which claims and promises the safety and respect of women, is now exposed," it wrote alongside the video.

"Delimitation Wrapped in a Sari ... BJP may be Chalu (cunning), but it overplayed its hand. This is beginning of its decline... We dare BJP to bring in 33 per cent reservation for women today," TMC MP Mahua Moitra declared in a video on X.