NEW DELHI, Mar 25: Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress on Wednesday alleged that the “U-turn Ustad” now wants to implement the women’s reservation law without completing delimitation and census exercises, by convening a “special two-day session” of Parliament in the coming fortnight.
The party claimed the move was a “weapon of mass diversion” aimed at shifting focus from the government’s alleged foreign policy setbacks and the ongoing LPG and energy crisis.
Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said the government is also considering increasing the size of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by 50 per cent, which, he noted, requires careful deliberation.
He pointed out that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed in September 2023, provides for one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, including seats reserved for SCs and STs, but its implementation was linked to the completion of delimitation and census exercises.
Ramesh recalled that when the Bill was debated, the Congress had demanded its implementation from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but the government had maintained that it could only be done after delimitation and census were completed.
“Now, after nearly 30 months, the government appears to have changed its stand and wants to implement the reservation without completing these exercises,” he said.
He further alleged that the Prime Minister was attempting to gain political mileage by proposing a special session to pass amendments to the law. The Opposition, he added, has demanded that an all-party meeting be convened after the ongoing round of assembly elections to discuss the proposed changes.
Ramesh also criticised the Election Commission’s Model Code of Conduct, alleging it has effectively become a “Modi Code of Campaigning”.
Meanwhile, sources indicated that the government is unlikely to immediately introduce a Bill to increase Lok Sabha seats to 816 or amend the women’s quota law during the current session. The Budget session may be adjourned early but not prorogued, keeping open the option of reconvening it later.
Consultations on the issue are ongoing, though discussions with key opposition parties are yet to take place.
The women’s reservation law, enacted through the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, is expected to come into effect after the delimitation exercise, with provisions likely to be implemented ahead of future Lok Sabha and assembly elections. (Agencies)
