After Bill defeat, PM Modi accuses Opposition of ‘foeticide’; rivals hit back, call remarks partisan

A day after the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026 — proposing fresh delimitation, increasing Lok Sabha strength to 850 seats, and introducing 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies — was defeated in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply attacked the Opposition, accusing the Congress, DMK, TMC and Samajwadi Party of committing “bhrun-hatya” or foeticide by blocking the Bill.

In a televised address to the nation on April 18 evening, Modi framed the setback not as a defeat, but as a temporary numerical shortfall, insisting that his government’s determination remained intact.

“Yesterday, we may not have had the numerical strength, but that does not mean we have been defeated. Our inner resolve is invincible. Our efforts will not stop,” the Prime Minister said, striking a defiant tone.

He added that more opportunities would come in the future and vowed that his government would remove every obstacle in the path of delivering justice to women.

‘Blessings of women are with us’

Seeking to turn the political loss into a moral victory, Modi said that although the government failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, it continued to enjoy the support of women across the country.

“Even if we did not receive the 66% votes needed to pass the Bill today, I know the blessings of 100% of India’s women — our Nari Shakti — are with us,” he said.

The Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Friday after securing 298 votes in favor and 230 against, falling well short of the constitutional threshold required for passage.

Sharp attack on Congress and regional rivals

The Prime Minister accused the Congress of repeatedly obstructing reform and opposing women’s empowerment.

“It has consistently conspired to block women’s reservation and has once again proved itself to be an anti-reform party,” he said.

He also directly targeted the TMC and DMK — parties the Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting in the ongoing Assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu respectively — as well as the Samajwadi Party, its principal rival in Uttar Pradesh ahead of next year’s Assembly polls.

According to Modi, these parties had missed a historic opportunity to strengthen their own states by enabling greater parliamentary representation through the proposed expansion of seats.

Delimitation reassurance amid southern concerns

The Prime Minister also attempted to reassure states concerned about the impact of delimitation, echoing arguments earlier made in Parliament by Home Minister Amit Shah.

He said the government had clearly stated from the beginning that no state would lose representation, and that all states would gain seats in equal proportion.

“It was an effort to strengthen every state — North, South, East and West — and give stronger voice to every region in Parliament,” Modi said.

This issue had emerged as a major flashpoint because the Bill referred to seat increases based on the latest available Census data, namely Census 2011, without explicitly guaranteeing proportional safeguards.

‘Dynastic parties fear empowered women’

Modi further alleged that Opposition parties were reluctant to support the Bill because stronger political participation by women would threaten entrenched family-led leadership structures.

“These dynastic parties are afraid that empowering the women of this country will challenge their control,” he said.

At the same time, he said the issue was bigger than political credit.

“This is not about failure or who gets credit. Half the country’s population deserves its rightful place. If they get it, I am ready to publish advertisements giving credit to the Opposition,” he said.

Opposition hits back

Opposition leaders later criticized the Prime Minister’s language and accused him of weaponizing a failed constitutional amendment for electoral gain.

Several leaders described the speech as “pathetic”, “partisan” and unbecoming of the office of Prime Minister, saying serious parliamentary disagreements should not be reduced to inflammatory rhetoric.

With Assembly elections underway and the next round of national political battles looming, the failed Bill has now become more than a legislative setback — it has turned into the latest front in an increasingly bitter political war.