By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 20: BJP national secretary in charge of Meghalaya, Anil K. Antony, on Monday asserted that the state would have significantly benefited from the proposed women’s reservation and delimitation-linked reforms, accusing opposition parties of sabotaging a move that could have strengthened Meghalaya’s voice in Parliament.
Addressing a press conference, he said the reforms would have increased Meghalaya’s Lok Sabha representation from two to three seats, thereby enhancing the state’s presence in national decision-making.
“With one-third reservation, at least one of the three seats would have been reserved for women, ensuring consistent representation of women from Meghalaya in Parliament,” Antony said.
The BJP state in-charge stressed that such a change would have expanded political opportunities for women in the state and encouraged greater participation at the grassroots level, paving the way for more inclusive leadership.
“Meghalaya would have seen a stronger and more balanced representation. Women leaders from the state would have had a guaranteed platform to raise key issues affecting our people,” Antony said.
He added that increased representation would have enabled better articulation of state-specific concerns, including those of indigenous communities, while ensuring that issues such as healthcare, education, livelihood, and women’s safety receive greater attention at the national level.
Antony further pointed out that the proposed delimitation exercise would have aligned Meghalaya’s parliamentary representation with present population realities, thereby improving its influence in policymaking.
“This was not just about women’s reservation; it was about strengthening states like Meghalaya by giving them a bigger voice in Parliament,” the BJP national leader said.
According to him, the reforms were part of a broader effort to ensure fairness and equity in democratic processes while correcting long-standing imbalances in representation.
Antony alleged that members of the opposition alliance, particularly the Indian National Congress and its partners, obstructed the passage of the measures by spreading “false narratives” and resorting to disruption.
“Instead of supporting a reform that would have benefited states like Meghalaya and empowered women, the opposition chose to stall progress for political reasons,” he said.
He further claimed that the opposition feared losing political ground if women were granted greater representation.
Drawing parallels with past developments, Antony cited the Shah Bano case and the opposition to the abolition of Triple Talaq to argue that such parties have historically resisted measures aimed at women’s empowerment.
Reiterating the BJP’s stand, the BJP leader said the party remains committed to ensuring equitable representation for women and strengthening democratic participation across the country.
“The BJP will continue to fight for the rights of women and for greater representation of states like Meghalaya. Such obstructionist politics will not deter us,” he asserted.
Condemning the opposition’s conduct during the Parliament session, Antony termed it “undemocratic and anti-women”, urging citizens, especially women, to take note of what he described as repeated attempts to block progressive reforms.
