Drawing on deep historical struggles, Sapkal invoked the legacy of Savitribai Phule, the pioneer of women’s education in India, to contextualize his critique. He highlighted the fierce resistance Phule encountered while establishing the nation’s first school for girls, alleging that such opposition originated from the same ideological stream he now attributes to the BJP. According to the Congress leader, acknowledging this historical friction is essential to understanding the contemporary debates surrounding gender equality and political representation in India. He argued that the current political discourse cannot be separated from the ideological lineage that once sought to obstruct foundational progress for women.
The Congress leader moved to reclaim the narrative on legislative progress, asserting that his party has consistently championed the cause of empowerment. Sapkal pointed out that while women’s reservation legislation passed in Parliament in 2023 with multi-party support, it was the Congress that pioneered practical implementation at the grassroots. He cited the party’s role in introducing 33 per cent reservation in local self-government bodies, which was subsequently increased to 50 per cent across several states. In a sharp rebuke, he accused the BJP of utilizing the issue of women’s reservation as a mere political tool rather than pursuing the cause with genuine intent or sincerity.
Turning to recent legislative friction, Sapkal criticized the defeat of a constitutional amendment bill in the Lok Sabha, claiming the proposed legislation was strategically linked to delimitation. He accused the BJP of attempting to manipulate the country’s political structure and reshaping the socio-political landscape of regions like Mumbai and Maharashtra for electoral advantage. Beyond policy, Sapkal raised alarms over the alleged intimidation of the press, claiming BJP workers threatened journalists who circulated a viral video of a woman confronting Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan during a Worli protest march. Stating that neither the Congress nor the media should be silenced by such threats, he called for urgent accountability and the protection of press freedom.
Concluding his address, Sapkal defended Mallikarjun Kharge against controversies involving remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that Kharge’s words were being misrepresented for political gain. He further urged the Election Commission of India to expand its scrutiny beyond the opposition, demanding an investigation into the BJP’s conduct during elections in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Assam. By linking ideological texts, historical opposition to education, and modern-day administrative maneuvers, Sapkal framed the BJP’s stance on women as fundamentally insincere, positioning the Congress as the sole historical and practical architect of gender-based political reform in Maharashtra and beyond.
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