MODI’S ‘NARI VANDAN’ OR ‘SATTA VANDAN’: SHIVANAND TIWARI

MODI’S ‘NARI VANDAN’ OR ‘SATTA VANDAN’: SHIVANAND TIWARI

20-APRIL-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA--------------------------Shivanand Tiwari—a former minister and former National Vice President of the RJD, renowned in Bihar politics as the "Chanakya" of the state—has launched a scathing attack on the BJP regarding the Women's Reservation Bill, sharing his commentary via social media. Shivanand Tiwari has written that, under the guise of "Nari Vandan," the BJP is, in reality, playing a game aimed at perpetuating its hold on power. Had there been a genuine concern for women's representation, the bill passed in 2023 would have been implemented immediately, rather than being deferred by linking it to the census and the delimitation exercise.

The sudden new framework now being introduced—which proposes increasing the number of seats to over 800—is part of a conspiracy to engineer a balance that would bolster the dominance of states like Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP already holds a strong position. This move threatens to disrupt the democratic equilibrium, causing power to become concentrated within a select few regions.

The irony lies in the fact that, in a country where women's safety remains unassured to this day—and where even those convicted of rape appear to enjoy patronage—the political slogan of "Nari Vandan" is being proclaimed. This is not an act of respect toward women, but rather a stratagem to entrench power—and the people must recognize this for what it is.