As the special session of Parliament approaches on April 16 to deliberate on modifications to the women’s reservation Act, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached out to floor leaders of various political parties to solicit their backing and cooperation. According to sources, this initiative could serve as a unifying point for the Opposition.<\/p>\n
Modi characterized this session as a chance to further fortify Indian democracy, asserting that the constitutional amendment would fulfill a significant obligation to the women of the nation.<\/p>\n
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which allocates one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies to women, was enacted in September 2023. However, its implementation is contingent upon the completion of delimitation based on the 2027 Census, meaning it would not take effect until 2034. To enable its application in the 2029 elections, amendments to the Act are necessary.<\/p>\n
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will require support from Opposition parties to achieve the two-thirds majority essential for passing the constitutional amendment.<\/p>\n
In his letter, the Prime Minister expressed, \u201cThis special sitting represents an opportunity to further enhance our democracy. It is also a time to reaffirm our shared commitment to progress together and to include everyone.\u201d He emphasized that for India to realize its aspiration of becoming a developed nation, it is vital for women to take on a more significant and active role.<\/p>\n
\u201cWomen constitute nearly half of our population, and this is a pivotal step towards increasing their involvement in the political arena,\u201d he stated, describing it as \u201ca crucial and motivating milestone\u201d in the journey of India\u2019s Parliament.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter thorough discussions, we have concluded that the moment has arrived to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam genuinely across the nation. It is crucial that the 2029 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections occur with women\u2019s reservation in effect,\u201d he noted. \u201cThis is a moment that transcends any single party or individual. It is a time to show our responsibility towards women and future generations,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
In response to the Prime Minister\u2019s correspondence, Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, pointed out that it has been 30 months since the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was enacted, and the special session was convened \u201cwithout consulting\u201d the Opposition. He also highlighted that the government has not provided any information regarding delimitation. \u201cYou will understand that without details on delimitation and other related matters, it would be impossible to engage in meaningful discussions about this historic law,\u201d he remarked in his letter.<\/p>\n
During the Bill’s passage, Kharge indicated that Congress had pushed for the law to be enforced immediately. He noted that while the Prime Minister claimed broad consensus existed for its prompt implementation, it has not been enacted.<\/p>\n
Kharge mentioned that the Opposition has requested the government to hold an all-party meeting to discuss delimitation issues after the elections conclude on April 29, accusing the government of \u201crushing the Bill\u2019s implementation for political gain rather than genuinely empowering women.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a reply to Kharge, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed his respectful disagreement, stating that the promises made to women in India \u201ccannot be postponed indefinitely.\u201d He added that as the time to fully deliver on the Act approaches, \u201chesitation and questions arise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor decades, the idea of women\u2019s reservation was merely a promise. This Government has transformed it into reality. Now, the necessary amendments linked to delimitation are essential to ensure our #NariShakti receives rightful representation before 2029, instead of delaying it further,\u201d he stated on X.<\/p>\n
Rijiju emphasized that he has actively reached out, communicated, and engaged with leaders from various parties. \u201cDialogue has occurred and continues. However, at some point, intentions must be translated into action. Delaying implementation under the pretext of process is simply delaying justice for millions of women,\u201d he remarked. He asserted that this is \u201cnot about politics\u201d but about \u201cfulfilling our promise to the daughters of India.\u201d<\/p>\n
CPI(M) MP John Brittas expressed to The Indian Express that the proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats by 50% \u201cundermines the federal balance and diversity that fortifies our democracy,\u201d as northern states would gain 200 additional seats, while southern states would only receive 65. \u201cThe hastily arranged special sitting and bundled amendments for substantial seat expansion raise significant concerns. Two crucial states\u2014West Bengal and Tamil Nadu\u2014are in the midst of Assembly elections. We formally requested the government to postpone until these elections are completed,\u201d Brittas stated.<\/p>\n
Sources revealed to The Indian Express that there is a general consensus among non-Congress opposition parties that Congress will lead on this matter. Key leaders from the INDIA coalition are expected to participate in a meeting in Delhi on April 15, which will be chaired by Kharge.<\/p>\n
P. Sandosh Kumar, the CPI\u2019s floor leader in the Rajya Sabha, mentioned to The Indian Express that the Prime Minister\u2019s letter was filled with political rhetoric and lacked specifics regarding delimitation. \u201cThe planned delimitation poses risks for southern states, and these issues must be addressed,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As the special session of Parliament approaches on April 16 to deliberate on modifications to the women’s reservation Act, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached out to floor leaders of various political parties to solicit their backing and cooperation. According to sources, this initiative could serve as a unifying point for the Opposition. Modi characterized […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8244,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[622,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-india","category-india"],"yoast_head":"\n