Chennithala Opposes Amendments Threatening Women's Reservation Bill

Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi, Apr 17 (PTI): Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has called for the withdrawal of the Centre's proposed amendments related to women's reservation in Parliament and legislative assemblies, arguing that they pose a threat to the country's unity and democratic framework.

Chennithala articulated skepticism about the genuine intent behind the Women Reservation Amendment Bill.

"If the Centre is truly committed to women's reservation, it should be applied to the current seats in the Lok Sabha," he stated to reporters in Delhi.

He emphasized that the opposition stands unified against the amendment, which, according to him, seeks to weaken the country's unity and democracy.

Chennithala accused the government of rushing the bills through.

"These amendments will not benefit the nation but instead erode its democratic principles. The amendments appear to have been introduced with an election-focused agenda. Thus, the bills need to be withdrawn," he asserted.

A special parliamentary session is underway from April 16 to 18, where amendments to the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam'—popularly known as the Women's Reservation Act—mandating 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for 2029, are being discussed.

The proposed amendments also aim to expand the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850 to facilitate the women's reservation law before the 2029 general elections, following a delimitation exercise based on the latest census.

The parliamentary opposition has voiced its objections and has called for the amendments to be retracted.