Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam: Cong urges Jharkhand women to join ‘March to Parliament’ on July 21

Ranchi, Jul 14 (PTI) The Jharkhand Congress on Tuesday called upon women to participate in large numbers in the ‘March to Parliament’ in New Delhi to press for the party's demand for implementing the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' at the earliest. The ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, commonly known as the Women’s Reservation Act, provided for the reservation of one-third of seats for women in Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. The central government’s intention regarding the implementation of the act is unclear, Jharkhand Congress women's wing co-in-charge Sudha Prasad claimed. “On July 21, a March to Parliament will be held in New Delhi to force the BJP government to implement the Women’s Reservation Bill with immediate effect. The march will be spearheaded by Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba. I urge the women of Jharkhand to come in large numbers to support this march,” Prasad told reporters. As part of the Parliament march, the Mahila Congress has also organised signature drives, postcard campaigns, and women's conventions across various states, including Jharkhand. “We have collected signatures of women from every district in the state and they have shown their interest in demanding the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. These signed banners will be displayed at our March to Parliament,” Prasad stated. The Congress has been saying that the women’s reservation bill was passed in the Lok Sabha in 2023 with its support, but the BJP allegedly created confusion by linking it with a constitutional amendment process. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, implementing 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies from the 2029 parliamentary polls, failed to pass in the Lower House of Parliament on April 17. “Congress has been a strong supporter of women's reservation from the very beginning,” Prasad said. The party wants that after its implementation, the maximum number of women should win and enter Parliament and state assemblies so that the voice of women can be strengthened, she said. Rama Khalkho, the president of Jharkhand Mahila Congress, said that on 21 July, women from Jharkhand will participate in large numbers during the “Chalo Sansad” protest. PTI RPS NN