Rijiju Claims Tharoor Admitted Congress Is Anti-Women
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has claimed that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor “in a way” accepted that the Congress is anti-women, triggering a fresh political exchange after the opposition’s stand on the Women’s Reservation Amendment Bill.
Kiren Rijiju Targets Congress Over Women’s Reservation
Rijiju said the Congress and other opposition parties should explain their position after voting against the Constitution Amendment Bill linked to women’s reservation in Parliament and state assemblies.
He questioned why parties would oppose a proposal aimed at increasing women’s representation in legislatures. Rijiju also accused the Congress, Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party of voting against women’s interests.
Shashi Tharoor Banter Sparks Political Row
Rijiju referred to a post-session exchange with Shashi Tharoor in Parliament. According to him, Tharoor suggested that while Congress may be seen as anti-women, no woman would consider Tharoor personally anti-women.
Rijiju said he agreed with the second part of the comment but interpreted the exchange as Tharoor indirectly accepting the Congress’s anti-women image. The remark was made during an interview and quickly became a political flashpoint.
Tharoor Denies Rijiju’s Claim
Shashi Tharoor rejected Rijiju’s interpretation and said he had neither said nor implied that the Congress was anti-women. He said there were witnesses present who could confirm his version of the conversation.
The controversy has added another layer to the ongoing debate over women’s reservation and opposition politics. The BJP is using the issue to attack Congress, while Tharoor has accused Rijiju of misrepresenting a light-hearted exchange.
