Mayawati Urges Political Unity in Monsoon Session: Calls for Cross-Party Action on Inflation, Women’s Safety, and National Security
BSP chief Mayawati calls for unity during the 2025 Monsoon Session, urging all parties to work together on inflation, women’s safety, and national security.
NewsSutra
In a significant political development during the 2025 Monsoon Session of Parliament, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati made an impassioned appeal for political unity. Addressing both the ruling government and the opposition benches, Mayawati called for constructive cooperation to tackle critical national issues—namely rising inflation, women’s safety, and national security.
In an era of increasing political polarization, her remarks stood out as a rare call for bipartisan engagement on matters of public concern. Delivered with both urgency and conviction, Mayawati’s message was not just directed at lawmakers in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, but also at the Indian public, which continues to endure the consequences of policy deadlock and partisan gridlock.
This article offers a deep dive into Mayawati’s address, the key issues she highlighted, reactions from across the political spectrum, and what it could mean for India’s governance during this critical legislative session.
A Call for Responsibility Over Rhetoric
During her address to the Rajya Sabha on Day 2 of the Monsoon Session, Mayawati emphasized that public interest must come before party politics. She said, “We may sit on different sides of the aisle, but our responsibility is to the people of this nation—not to our political egos.”
Her speech followed a morning filled with disruptions and slogan-shouting from both the treasury and opposition benches. In this context, her remarks served as a moment of clarity, urging Parliamentarians to set aside differences for the sake of national progress.
She further added, “Issues like women’s safety, spiralling inflation, and threats to national security are not the concerns of one party—they are the collective responsibility of this House.”
Rising Inflation: A Shared National Concern
Mayawati was especially vocal about the impact of inflation on the working class and economically vulnerable sections of society—demographics that the BSP has historically represented.
She pointed to rising prices of essential commodities such as cooking oil, pulses, and fuel, and demanded that the government take concrete steps to stabilize prices. Quoting recent data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, she mentioned that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation had risen to 6.3% in June, breaching the Reserve Bank of India’s upper tolerance limit of 6%.
The BSP chief called for the reintroduction of universal food subsidies, enhanced price caps on essential goods, and a parliamentary review of GST slabs that disproportionately affect the poor. She urged MPs across parties to support measures that protect household budgets, especially in rural areas.
Economists, including Dr. Arvind Subramanian, have supported calls for policy recalibration. In a recent op-ed in The Hindu (source), he emphasized the need for “targeted inflation control measures and political consensus to support monetary and fiscal coordination.”
Women’s Safety: An Unfinished Agenda
Another major focal point in Mayawati’s speech was the urgent need to improve women’s safety and justice systems. Citing recent cases of violence against women in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar, she questioned the commitment of both central and state governments in protecting citizens.
She said, “We cannot claim to be a progressive democracy if women feel unsafe walking the streets or pursuing education and employment.”
Mayawati proposed several measures:
-
Fast-track courts for gender-based crimes
-
Increased police recruitment of women officers
-
Mandatory gender-sensitization training for law enforcement
-
Stringent oversight of crimes involving caste or religious targeting
She also demanded that the Women's Reservation Bill, which aims to allocate 33% of seats in Parliament and state legislatures for women, be passed without further delay. While the bill has bipartisan support, it has been pending for years due to lack of political will and consensus.
Her call resonated with civil society groups. Anuradha Bhasin, a legal activist with the Centre for Women’s Justice, said in an interview with Scroll.in, “When a leader like Mayawati speaks about structural reform for women’s safety, it adds political weight to our demands.”
National Security: A Non-Partisan Imperative
On the issue of national security, Mayawati stressed the importance of coordination between defence agencies, intelligence departments, and state administrations, especially in border states and regions affected by insurgency.
She referenced increasing cross-border tensions, growing incidents of cyberattacks, and internal threats from communal and caste-based violence as signs of deteriorating national coherence.
Mayawati stated, “National security is not just about armies and weapons—it is about ensuring that every citizen, regardless of religion or caste, feels safe in their own country.”
She urged the Centre to avoid politicizing defence-related announcements and suggested that a multi-party committee on national security be formed to provide ongoing oversight and feedback to defence policy-making bodies.
Security experts have echoed her concerns. Lt Gen. (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, in a recent panel hosted by India Today, emphasized, “Only by depoliticizing security discussions can we build real preparedness. Mayawati’s suggestion of a bipartisan approach is a good starting point.”
Reaction Across the Political Spectrum
Mayawati’s address received a mixed but largely respectful response from across party lines. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh agreed with her call for unity, saying, “This Parliament must rise above narrow party interests on issues like women’s safety and inflation.”
On the other side, Union Minister Smriti Irani responded to Mayawati’s remarks on women’s safety, stating, “The government has already taken steps, including ‘Mission Shakti’ and the expansion of One Stop Centres across districts. But we welcome the BSP’s constructive input.”
However, some regional parties remained skeptical. TMC’s Derek O'Brien noted that unity is often easier said than done in a political environment where “the Centre continues to push bills without adequate discussion or debate.”
Despite differing views, Mayawati’s speech seems to have struck a chord with the public. Trending hashtags like #MayawatiSpeaksForIndia and #MonsoonUnity trended on X, with many users applauding her for raising pertinent issues in a constructive tone.
What This Means for the Monsoon Session
The 2025 Monsoon Session has a packed agenda, including bills on criminal law reform, labour codes, defence procurement, and agricultural policy. Analysts say that Mayawati’s remarks may pressure both the government and the opposition to find middle ground on at least a few key legislative items.
PRS Legislative Research notes that only 38% of Parliament's scheduled hours were used productively in the last Monsoon Session. With Mayawati's intervention, there is now renewed hope that this year’s session could be more fruitful.
Political commentator Saba Naqvi wrote in The Print (source), “When a leader from a non-dominant party like the BSP calls for unity, it has moral resonance. It’s time for the major parties to listen.”
Conclusion: A Stateswoman’s Moment
In an age where politics is often reduced to theatrics and confrontation, Mayawati’s appeal for unity during the 2025 Monsoon Session stands out for its maturity, depth, and statesmanship. Her focus on inflation, women’s safety, and national security reflects a grounded understanding of the country’s most urgent concerns.
Whether her words will lead to tangible change depends on how the rest of Parliament responds. But one thing is certain: Mayawati has once again shown that leadership is not just about winning elections—it is about speaking for the people, even when the cameras stop rolling.
