Delimitation, Not Women Quota, Real Issue: Sonia Gandhi on Special Session

Concerns Over Delimitation

Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has expressed that the primary issue concerning the special session of Parliament is delimitation, rather than the reservation for women in legislatures. In an op-ed published in The Hindu, she described the government’s delimitation plan as “extremely dangerous” and an “assault on the Constitution.” This statement follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s outreach to various political parties for support on amending the Women’s Reservation Bill.

The Women’s Reservation Bill, officially known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, was enacted in 2023 and mandates one-third reservation for women in legislative bodies. The proposed amendment seeks to separate its implementation from the upcoming 2027 Census and use the 2011 Census data instead, aiming for the legislation to take effect before the general elections scheduled for 2029.

Allegations of Political Maneuvering

Sonia Gandhi criticized the Prime Minister for possibly attempting to leverage the situation for political advantage, especially as election campaigning in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal intensifies. She remarked that his actions appear to be driven by a need to place the Opposition in a defensive position, asserting that the Prime Minister has not been entirely truthful in his communications.

She underlined that it was the government that linked the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill to the next Census, noting that the Opposition had not requested this condition. Gandhi emphasized that the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, had insisted on implementing the reservation ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which the government did not endorse. She questioned the Prime Minister’s recent change of stance regarding the timing of the reservation’s application.

Request for All-Party Meeting

Gandhi and other Opposition leaders have made repeated requests for an all-party meeting to discuss the government’s new proposals after the completion of elections in West Bengal, yet these requests have reportedly been declined. She pointed out that the Prime Minister has chosen to engage in other forms of communication and events instead of facilitating dialogue with opposition leaders.

Gandhi compared the current government’s actions regarding the Women’s Reservation Bill to those of the previous government led by her husband, Rajiv Gandhi, which successfully implemented women’s reservation in local bodies. She highlighted the ongoing delays in conducting the Census due to the government’s inaction, arguing that this neglect has deprived numerous individuals of their entitlements under various welfare schemes.

Concerns About Caste Census

She raised additional concerns regarding the claims that a caste census would delay the publication of the Census data in 2027, asserting that such statements are misleading. Gandhi argued that the Prime Minister’s real agenda may be to further postpone the caste census altogether.

As the special session approaches, scheduled to commence on April 16, uncertainties remain regarding the official agenda and proposals to be presented to Members of Parliament. Gandhi reiterated that any delimitation process must follow a proper Census exercise and that any increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats must be executed equitably, to avoid disadvantaging states that have made significant advancements in family planning.

Future Parliamentary Sessions

Gandhi noted that the monsoon session of Parliament will start in mid-July and suggested that there is no need for haste in addressing the proposals before an all-party discussion can occur. She criticized the urgency as lacking justification and claimed it undermines a democratic decision-making process.

In a prior communication, Prime Minister Modi regarded the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill as a significant achievement reflecting parliamentary unity. He affirmed the necessity of implementing the Bill fully for the upcoming elections to enhance representation and trust within the democratic framework of India.