“Look at the Massive Support”: Kiren Rijiju Shares Video of Sikkim Women Protesting Against Opposition
Gangtok (Sikkim), April 18, 2026 — The defeat of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha has triggered a massive wave of outrage, with the tremors of the legislative setback being strongly felt in the Northeast. Hundreds of women and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers took to the streets in Sikkim today in a massive show of strength to protest the stalling of the landmark legislation.
The protesters marched through the streets, raising fierce slogans against the opposition parties for deliberately blocking the constitutional amendment that sought to finalize the framework for a 33% quota for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.
“Massive Support from a Small State”
The widespread protests in Sikkim quickly caught national attention after Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shared a video of the rally on social media.
A strong warning to Congress Party. Look at the massive support for the Women’s reservation in Parliament and Assemblies from a small and a beautiful state of Sikkim !! https://t.co/n06UDpta3b pic.twitter.com/qMnJqrwqgB
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) April 18, 2026
Praising the spirit of the state’s female citizens, Rijiju wrote, “Look at the massive support coming from the small and beautiful state of Sikkim.” The Union Minister’s post highlighted the deep grassroots resonance of the Women’s Reservation issue, emphasizing that women across the country are politically conscious and demanding their rightful representation.
The BJP has launched a nationwide counter-attack against the opposition bloc following the bill’s collapse. The ruling party has categorically accused the opposition of stripping women of a historic opportunity for empowerment and dignity purely for partisan politics.
A Historic Opportunity Missed
The protests in Sikkim come immediately after the government failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in Parliament to pass the crucial amendment related to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
Despite two days of intense parliamentary debates, the legislation fell through. During the discussions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made an emotional appeal to lawmakers across party lines. He urged the opposition to “listen to the voice of your conscience, remember your sisters and daughters at home, and then cast your vote”.
However, the opposition bloc refused to budge on their demands to delink the quota from the upcoming census and delimitation exercises. Consequently, the government could not muster the two-thirds support required, leading to the bill’s defeat.
As the political blame game intensifies in New Delhi, the visuals of hundreds of women marching in Sikkim serve as a stark reminder of the genuine anger and disappointment brewing among female voters over the stalled progress of their political empowerment.
