BJP accuses Congress of blocking Women’s Reservation Bill

Pic: Union ministers Pralhad Joshi & Shobha Karandlaje, BJP state president BY Vijayendra, former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and others during inauguration of Janakrosha padayatra and protest rallyHubballi: Union minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday accused the Congress and its allies of consistently opposing the Women's Reservation Bill, asserting that the BJP would continue its political fight until the legislation is passed.Speaking to reporters after launching the BJP women's wing's Janakrosha Padayatra in Hubballi, Joshi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would decide in the next session whether the Bill would be tabled again. Addressing a gathering at Nehru Stadium later, he claimed the Bill had first been introduced during HD Deve Gowda's tenure as prime minister and alleged that the Congress had failed to support it even then.BJP state president B Y Vijayendra also targeted the Congress, terming April 17 a ‘dark day' and accusing the party of conspiring against the Bill. He said women would respond politically in the coming days. Vijayendra also defended the recent hike in commercial LPG prices, linking it to global factors and alleging political exploitation by the opposition.Union minister Shobha Karandlaje alleged a conspiracy by the Indi Alliance to divide the country over opposition to the Bill.MLAs Mahesh Tenginakai, Arvind Bellad, MR Patil, former minister Shankar Patil Munenakoppa, CC Patil and others were present at the function.