Mahila Congress stages protest at Jantar Mantar, demands implementation of 33 pc women’s quota

As the second phase of the Budget session commenced, the All India Mahila Congress, led by its president Alka Lamba, staged a protest at Jantar Mantar on Monday, demanding the immediate implementation of the 33 per cent women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The protest highlighted the Congress party's continued pressure on the BJP-led central government to enforce the legislation, which was passed last year but remains stalled due to pending delimitation and census requirements.

Lamba accused the Modi government of using the women's reservation law as an electoral gimmick while failing to act on its implementation.

“This law was passed during the UPA regime, but the BJP government has conveniently kept it on hold for the last ten years while reaping political benefits from its promise,” she said.

She further criticised the government for linking the law’s enforcement to a future delimitation exercise, delaying actual representation for women in elected bodies.

The protest saw participation from Mahila Congress members across states, coming just two days after the party’s International Women’s Day celebration at Congress headquarters, ‘Indira Bhawan.’

The event, Shakti Samman, brought together state presidents, national office bearers, and grassroots workers, reinforcing the party's commitment to gender equality.

Lamba also used the occasion to highlight the Mahila Congress’ growing organisational strength, stating that five lakh new members have been enrolled in the past year, with a target of expanding membership to 12 lakh by September 2025.

She announced a new social welfare initiative—free distribution of ten sanitary napkins per month to rural women—which will be funded through internal contributions and CSR support.

With elections approaching, the Congress party is positioning itself as a champion of women’s rights, leveraging the delay in the implementation of the reservation law as a key electoral issue. Mahila Congress leaders vowed to continue their protests and mobilisation efforts, keeping the pressure on the government until the law is fully enacted.