Call for Gender Equality: Women's Wing of Odisha Congress Rallies for Women's Reservation

The Odisha Congress women's wing staged a protest demanding the immediate implementation of 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures. The demonstration involved senior Congress leaders and turned tense when agitators clashed with police barricades. Accusations against the BJP for delaying implementation sparked further calls for statewide agitation.

The women's wing of Odisha Congress staged a protest outside the state assembly on Thursday, calling for the swift enactment of 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies. The demonstration coincided with a special session focused on the 'Participation of Women in Indian Democracy.'

Led by prominent leaders, including OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das and women's wing president Minakshi Bahinipati, the protests saw participants brandishing banners and flags as they took part in a 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' protest. The situation escalated when participants attempted to breach police barricades, resulting in a brief scuffle and the detention of several Congress members, who were later released.

Accusing the BJP of delaying the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act, Das announced plans for a statewide agitation, criticizing what he described as the 'anti-women stance' of the government. Other leaders, including Jetti Kusum Kumar and former Union minister Srikant Jena, voiced grievances over the delayed action despite the 2023 parliamentary passage of the law.