• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Centre’s decision to call a special session of Parliament, accusing the government of fast-tracking the implementation of the women’s reservation law to gain “political mileage” ahead of Assembly elections in four states and a Union Territory.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Kharge raised concerns over the lack of consultation with which he said has been linked to the amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023. He further stated that the Parliament's special sitting was called without taking the opposition into 'confidence'.

"As you are aware, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 was passed by Parliament unanimously in September 2023. At that time, on behalf of the Indian National Congress, I had demanded that this important law should become effective immediately," he said.

Kharge, who also serves as the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said the Centre wants the opposition's cooperation without revealing details regarding the delimitation. Without details of the delimitation and other aspects, the senior Congress leader said it would be "impossible to have any useful discussion on this historic law".

"You mention in your letter that your government has engaged in dialogue with political parties regarding this. However, I am pained to point out that this goes against the truth since all the Opposition parties have been urging the government to call an all-party meeting after the current round of elections is over on April 29th, 2026 to discuss the Constitution amendments being contemplated," he said.

"I am also pained to write that the past record of the government in matters of public importance whether it is demonetisation, GST, census or even those pertaining to the federal structure like implementing Finance Commission recommendations and tax devolutions, does not inspire any confidence," he added.

"If the special sitting is meant to 'strengthen our democracy' and 'moving forward together, taking everyone along' as you write in the letter, then I would suggest that the government convene an all-party meeting any time after April 29th to discuss the delimitation issue which is being linked to the amendment to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023," he wrote.

ALSO READ: West Bengal Assembly Election 2026: How To Check Your Name In Voter List Via EPIC Or Mobile

This comes as the Parliament is set to meet for a three-day special session from April 16, with a focus on the Women's Reservation Amendment Bill. The Government has planned two major amendments. 2023's Nari Shakti Vandan Act tied women's reservation to the new census and delimitation. Due to census delays, the plan is to proceed with the 2011 census data.

ALSO READ: 'Won't Forget America's Breaches': Iran Refuses To Back Down After US Peace Talks Fallout

The new Lok Sabha is likely to have more than 800 seats. Keeping up with the status quo, there is no provision for OBC reservation, and SC/ST reservation will continue. However, states won't have a role; the bill passed by Parliament will apply to them. Currently, the Lok Sabha has 543 seats. With a proposed 50 per cent increase, the number of seats will rise to 816, with 273 (about a third) reserved for women.

The government's key point is that they won't wait for a new census to give women, comprising half the country's population, fair representation in Parliament. Instead, delimitation will be done using the 2011 census data.

(With inputs from ANI )


Also In News