Priyanka Gandhi Slams Centre Over Women’s Reservation Bill, Alleges ‘PR-Driven Politics’

Congress General Secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a sharp attack on the central government, accusing it of misleading the public and relying heavily on “media hype and PR” instead of substantive governance.

देश की जनता जागरूक है, सरकार उसे गुमराह नहीं कर सकती। भारत की जनता देख रही है कि मोदी सरकार सिर्फ मीडियाबाजी और PR पर टिकी हुई है और इसमें उनके करोड़ों रुपए खर्च किए जा रहे हैं। अमित शाह जी कल कह रहे थे कि हम पर भरोसा करिए, लेकिन असलियत यही है कि जनता का भरोसा इस सरकार से उठ… pic.twitter.com/JgTXec5NGR

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 18, 2026

She stated that the people of India are fully aware of the situation and cannot be misled, alleging that crores of rupees are being spent on image-building exercises. Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, she said that while he recently urged people to trust the government, the reality is that public trust has already eroded.

🔹 Bring back the 2023 legislation. Make necessary changes to implement it by 2029; we will fully support it. 🔹 They (BJP) can create as much drama as they want, but people now see that they (BJP) do not stand by their words. They cannot be trusted. 🔹 The sequence of events… pic.twitter.com/V20RMpusmg

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 18, 2026

Calling for a practical path forward, Priyanka Gandhi urged the government to reintroduce the 2023 women’s reservation legislation with necessary amendments to ensure its implementation by 2029. She assured full support from the opposition if such steps are taken.

We are all saying that if there is women's reservation, just like there will be one-third reservation for STs and SCs, there has to be an OBC reservation that is commensurate with the number. : Congress General Secretary & MP Smt. @priyankagandhi ji on OBC quota pic.twitter.com/1mkFGdj3JE

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 18, 2026

Criticising the ruling BJP, she said the party could create “as much drama as it wants,” but people have now realised that it does not stand by its commitments. She further alleged that linking the Bill with delimitation and the 2011 Census was a calculated move to ensure it would not pass, aimed solely at gaining political credit. Priyanka Gandhi also claimed that the government appears to be under significant international pressure, suggesting that recent decisions reflect circumstances that no Indian Prime Minister would ordinarily accept otherwise. On the issue of representation, she emphasized that alongside one-third reservation for women, there must be proportionate reservation for OBCs, similar to provisions for SCs and STs.