Bhubaneswar: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das on Thursday announced a statewide agitation against the alleged “anti-women approach” of the BJP-led government, demanding immediate implementation of the women’s reservation law.
Addressing a large women’s rally at Lower PMG here, Das said protests would be held across Odisha in the first week of May, including ‘mashal’ (torch) processions on May 3 and 4 at the district level and on May 7 and 8 at the block level under the supervision of district Congress committees.
He warned the government to “stop misleading women” and convene a special session of Parliament and the state Assembly to implement the 33 per cent reservation for women, failing which the party would intensify its agitation.
AICC co-in-charge for Odisha, Kusum Kumar, alleged that the BJP was spreading misinformation on the issue, asserting that the Congress had supported the women’s reservation bill when it was passed in Parliament in 2023.
Senior leaders, including Srikant Jena and Sura Routray, questioned the delay in implementation of the law, asking why it was not enforced during the 2024 general elections. They also opposed linking delimitation with the rollout of reservation and demanded its implementation based on the existing strength of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The leaders further sought sub-quotas for OBC, tribal and Dalit women within the proposed reservation framework, while accusing the BJP of adopting an “anti-women stance”.
The rally, chaired by Minakshi Bahinipati, saw participation from thousands of women workers across districts. Several leaders, including Tulika Karma and Rita Panda, addressed the gathering.
Following the meeting, hundreds of women Congress workers attempted to gherao the Odisha Legislative Assembly amid police resistance.
