NEW DELHI — A verbal spat has broken out between Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor over an alleged private conversation regarding the Congress party’s stance on women.
The row began when Rijiju claimed in an interview that Tharoor had “in a way” agreed with his assessment that while Tharoor himself is popular among women, the Congress party is “anti-women.” Tharoor has since issued a sharp denial, citing “seven witnesses” to support his version of events.
The Bone of Contention
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Rijiju’s Claim: The Union Minister shared a video clip asserting that after a Parliament session, he told Tharoor: “No one would call you anti-women, but your party is anti-women.” Rijiju claimed Tharoor essentially accepted this premise.
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Tharoor’s Rebuttal: Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Tharoor clarified that he never said or implied such a thing. “No, sir, that is NOT what I meant,” he posted, adding that colleagues present in a shared photograph could confirm his denial.
Political Context: The Women’s Quota Bill
The BJP has intensified its “anti-women” rhetoric against the Opposition following the defeat of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha, which failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority.
The Congress Stand: Tharoor reiterated that the Congress party:
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Initiated the Bill: Passed it in the Rajya Sabha during the UPA tenure.
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Supports Immediate Action: Demands implementation now, without linking it to census or delimitation.
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Historical Advocacy: Highlights the leadership of Sonia Gandhi in pushing for women’s rights.
The Takeaway: While Rijiju attempted to use a lighthearted personal exchange to score political points, Tharoor’s firm response underscores the deep divide over the implementation of women’s reservation and the optics of gender politics ahead of future polls.
