Hyderabad, April 18: The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP, staged a protest in Hyderabad on Friday after the women’s reservation-related constitutional amendment bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha. During the demonstration, protesters burned an effigy of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing the Congress party of obstructing the legislation.
The protest took place amid rising political tensions following the defeat of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to provide 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies but failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha.
BJYM workers gathered at a designated protest site, raising slogans against the Congress and other opposition parties. They alleged that the opposition’s stand during the parliamentary debate was responsible for blocking what they described as a historic opportunity for women’s empowerment.
The demonstration saw participants carrying placards and raising slogans in support of the women’s reservation proposal. The effigy burning of Rahul Gandhi became the focal point of the protest, with BJP youth workers accusing him of misleading political opposition to the bill.
The controversy stems from the broader parliamentary debate in which the bill, while widely supported in principle, failed after opposition parties objected to its linkage with delimitation and electoral boundary restructuring. The government had argued that the bill was a key step towards increasing women’s representation in legislatures, while opposition leaders maintained that its structure required reconsideration.
Following the bill’s failure, political reactions intensified across the country, with both ruling and opposition parties trading allegations over responsibility for the setback. The BJYM protest in Hyderabad is part of a wider series of demonstrations being organised by BJP youth and affiliated groups in several states.
Police maintained a presence at the protest site to ensure law and order. No major untoward incidents were reported during the demonstration.
Earlier, similar protests were held in other parts of the country, reflecting growing political polarisation over the issue. The BJYM and BJP leaders have accused the opposition of being “anti-women,” while opposition parties have defended their stand, arguing that their objections were related to constitutional and procedural concerns, not women’s reservation itself.
The women’s reservation bill, which has been under discussion for decades, remains a key political issue and is expected to continue triggering debate and protests in the coming days as parties sharpen their positions ahead of upcoming elections.
