BJP women MPs were detained by Delhi Police on Saturday during a protest march to the residence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following the failure of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.
- The Vote: The amendment bill received 298 votes in favor and 230 against, failing to secure the required two-thirds majority.
- The Conflict: The bill linked the implementation of 33% women’s reservation to a delimitation exercise intended to redistribute electoral seats.
- Parliamentary Status: Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die on April 18, 2026.
Women’s Reservation Bill and Delimitation Deadlock
The failure of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill marks a rare legislative setback for the government in over a decade. The legislation sought to advance a delimitation exercise as a prerequisite for rolling out 33% reservation for women, which was proposed to take effect by the 2029 general elections.
Opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, characterized the bill as a “camouflage” to push through a delimitation process that would reduce representation for southern states, the Northeast, and smaller states. Gandhi described the bill’s defeat as a “constitutional win,” claiming the measure was “anti-OBC” and “anti-SC-ST.”
Conversely, the government accused the INDIA bloc of blocking women’s rights. Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the Opposition’s celebration was an “insult to every woman” and suggested that voters would hold the Opposition accountable in future elections.
Protests and Detentions in Delhi
Following the bill’s defeat, several BJP women leaders staged a protest march near Rahul Gandhi’s residence in Sunehri Bagh. Delhi Police detained Union Minister Raksha Khadse and MPs Bansuri Swaraj and Kamaljeet Sehrawat. Other participants included Hema Malini, Manju Sharma, and Vatsalya Gupta.
Police utilized water cannons to disperse the crowd during the demonstration. Despite the march, Rahul Gandhi was not at his Delhi residence at the time, as he was attending a poll rally in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also protested the outcome by wearing a black armband during a summit in New Delhi, calling the non-passage of the bill a “painful” development.
Parliamentary Adjournment
The Budget session concluded on Saturday with both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourning sine die. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju described the overall session as productive, noting the successful passage of the Union Budget and other legislation.
Other bills passed during the session included The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, and The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026.
While the Lok Sabha took up routine business on its final day, including the tabling of the National Judicial Academy’s Annual Report, it remains unclear if the women’s reservation-linked amendment will be reintroduced.
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