Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for hastily advancing legislation aimed at implementing women’s reservation following delimitation. During a session on Thursday, she asserted that the government’s actions signify a move towards undermining democratic principles by exerting pressure on institutions like the Election Commission and the judiciary. She contended that the introduction of the constitutional amendment Bill represents a direct assault on democracy.
Gandhi raised questions regarding the government’s decision not to allocate a 33% quota for women based on the current Lok Sabha strength of 543 seats. She highlighted that the proposed Bill suggests an increase in Lok Sabha seats to as many as 850, which would be determined by a delimitation commission using data from the 2011 Census. “While this may appear reasonable at first glance, a closer examination reveals underlying political motives,” she remarked.
She expressed concern that the three individuals appointed by the government to the delimitation commission would influence the representation of various states, thereby affecting the electoral process and the rights of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) by relying solely on outdated census data rather than conducting a fresh caste census.
According to Gandhi, the government’s ongoing efforts to erode democratic structures have involved manipulating the Election Commission, judiciary, media, and other institutions. “This constitutional amendment marks a blatant attack on democracy,” she warned, stating that if the Bill is enacted, it could lead to the demise of democracy in India.
In a pointed remark directed at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, she stated, “Your plans are fully orchestrated. Had Chanakya been alive today, he would undoubtedly be taken aback by your deceitfulness.”
During her 20-minute address, Gandhi traced the historical context of women’s reservation in legislative bodies. She recalled that Prime Minister Modi claimed the issue had been stalled for 30 years, noting that it was initiated by Motilal Nehru, who, as committee president, outlined a list of rights for women during the Congress’s Karachi session. This list laid the groundwork for women’s equal rights in Indian politics.
She pointed out that it was Rajiv Gandhi who introduced a Bill for women’s reservation in local governance, and that the legislation was ultimately passed during P. V. Narasimha Rao’s Congress-led government. “Under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), it was approved in the Rajya Sabha, but consensus was not achieved in the Lok Sabha. In 2018, Rahul Gandhi reached out to PM Modi advocating for women’s reservation,” she added.
Gandhi reaffirmed Congress’s commitment to women’s reservation, stating, “In 2023, when this law was enacted, the Congress supported it, and we continue to advocate strongly for women’s representation. However, the real discussion has shifted away from women’s reservation due to the direction of the Bill introduced by the government.”
Divya A covers travel, tourism, culture, and social issues for The Indian Express. With over a decade of journalistic experience that includes roles at Khaleej Times and The Times of India, she is now part of the Express team. In addition to news reporting, she enjoys writing short stories. As a Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, her current research focuses on the lives of children of sex workers in India.
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