NEW DELHI — In a debate punctuated by cinematic flair, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut used an iconic Bollywood reference to champion the government’s Women’s Reservation Bill. Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, the Mandi representative hit back at the Congress party, questioning why they left the issue unresolved for decades.
Evoking the famous dialogue from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Ranaut compared the legislation to a moment of ultimate freedom for Indian women. “Today, our government has told us that all the cages are broken… ‘Jao betiyo, jee lo apni zindagi’ (Go daughters, live your life),” she told the House.
Critique of the Opposition
Ranaut directed sharp criticism toward Sonia Gandhi for questioning the timing and “hurry” behind the bill’s introduction:
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Decades of Delay: “Should we be like you and let it hang for 30 years?” Ranaut asked, highlighting the long-standing deadlock under previous administrations.
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10 Years vs. 60 Years: She claimed PM Modi has achieved more for women in a decade—from gas connections to defense inductions—than was done in the preceding 60 years.
“Flagbearer of Feminism”
Recounting a recent podcast discussion, the actor-turned-politician asserted that India is currently witnessing a “golden period” for women. She concluded her speech by labeling Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the country’s strongest advocate for gender equality, calling him the “flagbearer of feminism” in the government.
The dramatic intervention underscored the BJP’s strategy to frame the quota bill as a historic liberation for women, contrasting it with what they describe as the opposition’s “stagnation.”
