Walk the talk on women's reservation: Rahul tells Modi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to walk-the-talk on his claims over women's empowerment by ensuring the passage of the women's reservation bill during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning on Wednesday.

In a letter to the prime minister, Rahul recalled that in his rallies, Modi had spoken about his “passion” for empowering women and involving them more meaningfully in public life.

Rahul's letter came at a time when Modi was seeking to corner the Congress over the proposed law to ban triple talaq and paint it as a party of Muslim men. By highlighting the women's reservation issue, the Congress is trying to send a message that it was concerned about women belonging to all religions.

Rahul also offered his “unconditional support” to the Modi government if it chose to bring the bill granting 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state Assemblies during the monsoon session.

“Our PM says he’s a crusader for women’s empowerment? Time for him to rise above party politics, walk-his-talk & have the Women’s Reservation Bill passed by Parliament,” Rahul said.

The All India Mahila Congress (AIMC), led by Sushmita Dev, stepped up the pressure on the Modi government on the bill by taking out a jeep rally to highlight the “betrayal” of the promises made to women by Modi during the Lok Sabha elections of 2014.

Sushmita read out a “charge sheet” against Modi claiming that his commitment on Women's Reservation Bill has been “breached”.

“The commitment to strictly to implement laws related to women and particularly those laws related to rape has been breached. Commitment to save the girl child and educate her under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative has been breached,” Sushmita said.

In the letter to the prime minister, Rahul said the BJP appeared to have second thoughts even though this Bill was one of its key promises in its 2014 manifesto.

Given the fact that the BJP and its allies have a majority in the Lok Sabha, the Congress leader said what was required for this landmark bill to become a reality is the prime minister's support.

“I am sure, it will not be withheld,” Rahul said.