NEW DELHI: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took aim at the Centre in the Lok Sabha on Thursday while speaking on the proposed women’s reservation bill, using a sharp Chanakya reference that drew laughter from Union home minister Amit Shah himself and the treasury bench MPs.Backing the idea of reserving seats for women legislators, Priyanka said her party was not opposing women’s representation itself, but questioning what she described as the political intent behind the timing and framing of the bill. She argued that the ruling NDA was using the measure as an electoral strategy rather than as a purely reform-driven step.
In her remarks, she also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier speech praising the BJP’s record on women’s empowerment, alleging that the government was weakening constitutional principles while presenting itself as a champion of women’s rights.As laughter erupted from BJP benches, Priyanka responded with a pointed quip, saying the ruling side appeared thoroughly prepared and remarking that even Chanakya, were he alive today, would be astonished by their political cleverness.“If Chanakya had been alive today, he would have been surprised after seeing the BJP’s conspiracy to win elections,” Priyanka said.Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi “gave guarantee” that no injustice will be done to any state while allyaing delimitation fear that northern states may gain at the expense of the south Indian states.Speaking in Lok Sabha, during the The Delimitation Bill, 2026, along with the women quota bill, the Prime Minister said: “I give guarantee no injustice will be done to any state- from East to West, North to South.”
