New Delhi : Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack in Parliament. Gandhi argued that the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in 2023 was the “real legislation”, and alleged that the current move to tie its implementation to delimitation was a deliberate attempt to redraw political boundaries. He also warned that similar changes at the national level would require a constitutional amendment and could significantly impact representation.
You are telling the northeastern states, you are telling small states in India that in order for the BJP to remain in power, we are going to take away representation from you. This is nothing short of an anti-national act,” he said. The first truth is that this is not a women’s bill. This has nothing to do with the empowerment of women. This is an attempt to change the electoral map of India, he added. He further alleged that the exercise was aimed at bypassing a caste census and limiting political representation for backward communities.
They are trying to avoid giving power and representation to my OBC brothers and sisters and taking power from them,” Gandhi said. Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gandhi said, “He says the caste census has begun, repeating that houses don’t have caste. The point is whether the caste census will be used in representation in Parliament and state assemblies. On delimitation, Gandhi alleged the BJP was acting out of political insecurity.
Prime Minister and myself don’t have that wife issue…,” he said while referring to the role women play in shaping men’s lives. He also referred to his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and joked that she had achieved something he had not managed in years by making Union Home Minister Amit Shah smile. The debate took place during the special session of Parliament was convened to discuss women’s reservation and delimitation. The opposition has raised concerns that linking women’s quota implementation with delimitation could have wider consequences for federal balance, regional representation and caste-based political participation.
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