New Delhi/IBNS: Union Home Minister Amit Shah ripped into the Congress without taking its name after the grand old party attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party for 'delays' in tabling the landmark women's reservation bill, which was presented by the Union Law Minister in Parliament on Tuesday.

The Congress had accused the BJP of dragging its feet over the bill in search of an image boost ahead of next year's election.

Shah hailed the "unwavering commitment of the Modi government" and mocked the Congress for "friendly parties (that prevented)" the bill from being tabled.

The bill was cleared by the Rajya Sabha in 2010 (when Manmohan Singh was PM) but it failed the Lok Sabha hurdle after the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party opposed it. Both were (and are now) allies of the Congress.

"Across India people are rejoicing (at) introduction of the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' in Parliament. It shows unwavering commitment of the Modi government to empower women. Sadly, the opposition is unable to digest this," the union minister posted on X (formerly Twitter).

He also slammed the Congress for "tokenism" in relation to this issue. "What is more shameful... Congress has never been serious about women's reservation. Either they let legislations lapse or friendly parties prevented the bill from being tabled. Their double standards will never be hidden, whatever stunts they try to take credit for," he said.

The Women's Reservation Bill, pledging 33 percent of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies for women, was tabled in the Lower House of the new Parliament building on Tuesday.

Tabling the legislation, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal earlier in the day said: “This Bill will empower women after amendment. By amending articles of the Constitution, 33 percent of seats will be reserved for women."

The bill has been titled "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam".