'Congress not realising own errors': Rijiju draws parallel with Indira's post Emergency

NEW DELHI: Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday stepped up his attack on Congress, accusing the party of failing to acknowledge its "errors and shortcomings."In a post on X, Rijiju contrasted the current Congress leadership with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, saying she had been "blunt" in admitting the actions she took during the Emergency.Sharing a video of Indira Gandhi, Rijiju wrote, "Although... we do not agree with the policies and the steps taken by the former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi ji, she was blunt in admitting the actions that she had taken.""Now, Congress party is not even realising their own errors & shortcomings," he added.In the video, Indira Gandhi is seen defending the arrest of former deputy prime minister Morarji Desai and other Opposition leaders, alleging that they were "destroying democracy."Rijiju's remarks came hours after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi hit back at his challenge to the party to extend "unconditional support" to the Women's Reservation Bill. Gandhi questioned the Centre's decision to link implementation of the legislation with the delimitation exercise.Reiterating the Congress' position, Rahul called for the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, "without any conditions.""Mr Rijiju, who would know better than you, as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs - that the Women's Reservation Bill 2023 has already been passed unanimously, with the full support of the Congress," Rahul posted on X.The question is, why has it still not been implemented even after three years, and why do you now want to unnecessarily link it to delimitation? Implement the 2023 law. Without any conditions," he added.Earlier in the day, Rijiju had challenged the Congress to support the Women's Reservation Bill unconditionally after Gandhi called for greater freedom of expression for women.The opposition has demanded that women's reservation be delinked from the delimitation exercise.The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, was passed by both Houses of Parliament.However, its implementation has not moved forward after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill fell in the Lok Sabha on April 17, failing to secure the constitutionally required two-thirds majority of members present and voting.The Bill provided for 33 percent reservation for women in legislatures, along with provisions linked to delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.