Jaya Bachchan Slams Government Over Transgender Rights Bill

The Rajya Sabha witnessed high-voltage drama during the discussion on the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026. Veteran actress and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan launched a scathing attack on the government, labeling the new amendments as "unscientific" and a direct hit to the dignity of the transgender community.

She specifically criticized the mandatory requirement for a medical board certificate to prove one’s gender identity, arguing that the right to self-identify is a fundamental human right that the government is trying to undermine. Drawing a historical parallel, Bachchan questioned why a community that has been respected since the era of the Ramayana is being marginalized by the current administration.

To ensure genuine representation and address their grievances effectively, she demanded that a member from the transgender community be directly nominated to Parliament. The session took a dramatic turn when Bachchan, visibly irked by constant interruptions from the Treasury benches, firmly told the shouting members, "Sit down, kids!" Her stern remark caused an immediate silence in the house, leaving the ruling party members stunned. While the opposition continues to protest several clauses of the bill, Jaya Bachchan's fiery intervention has sparked a nationwide debate on identity and respect.