Congress, Allies Wholeheartedly Supported Women's Quota Bill: Sharad Pawar

He also said that it was the previous Congress governments in Maharashtra and at the Centre that had initiated steps for women's empowerment.

His statement comes a day after PM Modi said in Madhya Pradesh that the Congress and its allies in the new "ghamandia" (arrogant) alliance supported the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament "reluctantly".

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Pawar said, "PM Narendra Modi spoke of Congress and 'ghamandia' allies supporting the Women's Reservation Bill reluctantly. But this is not true. All of us have wholeheartedly supported the bill. The PM was not appropriately briefed." He said that on June 24, 1994, the Congress government headed by him in Maharashtra had unveiled a women's policy which was the first in the country.