22 April,2026 06:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that its ideological foundations treat women as inferior and questioning its stance on women's reservation.
Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Sapkal said the BJP had "no right" to speak on the issue unless it first distanced itself from certain ideological texts.
Sapkal claimed that the BJP's ideology is influenced by texts such as Manusmriti and Bunch of Thoughts, which he alleged promote a regressive view of women. He challenged the party to publicly reject these works before advocating for women's rights.
"The party should first reject these texts and then speak on women's reservation," he said, adding that the BJP must clarify its ideological position if it wishes to be seen as a genuine supporter of women's empowerment.
He also questioned the role of women within the broader ideological framework associated with the BJP, suggesting that meaningful representation must begin within its own ecosystem.
Drawing on historical context, Sapkal referred to Savitribai Phule, a pioneer of women's education in India. He highlighted the resistance she faced when she established the country's first school for girls and alleged that such opposition stemmed from the same ideological stream he attributes to the BJP.
Sapkal argued that acknowledging this history is essential to understanding present-day debates around gender equality and political representation.
The Congress leader asserted that his party has consistently championed women's empowerment. He pointed out that the women's reservation legislation had already been passed in Parliament in 2023 with support from multiple parties.
Sapkal also highlighted Congress's role in implementing reservation for women in local self-government bodies, stating that it initially introduced 33 per cent reservation and later increased it to 50 per cent in several states.
He accused the BJP of using the issue of women's reservation as a political tool rather than pursuing it with genuine intent.
Referring to the recent defeat of a constitutional amendment bill in the Lok Sabha, Sapkal claimed the proposed legislation was linked to delimitation and accused the BJP of attempting to alter the country's political structure.
He further alleged that the ruling party was trying to reshape the socio-political landscape of regions like Mumbai and Maharashtra for electoral gains.
Sapkal also raised concerns about alleged intimidation of journalists. He claimed that BJP workers had threatened media personnel who recorded and circulated a viral video showing a woman confronting Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan during a protest march in Worli.
"Neither Congress nor journalists should be intimidated by such threats," he said, calling for accountability and protection of press freedom.
Additionally, Sapkal defended Mallikarjun Kharge over a controversy surrounding remarks attributed to him about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He alleged that Kharge's statements were being misrepresented for political purposes.
Sapkal also urged the Election Commission of India to take note not only of complaints against opposition leaders but also of the BJP's conduct during elections in states such as Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Assam.
