Congress Criticizes Modi for Delaying Women's Reservation Bill

New Delhi, Apr 21 (PTI): The Congress has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attempting to delay the implementation of women's reservations in legislatures. The party claims Modi is linking the reservation to delimitation, despite a request from former Congress president Rahul Gandhi in 2018 for immediate implementation. According to Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh, Gandhi had written a letter to Modi on July 16, 2018, urging prompt action on the women's reservation issue.

"The Prime Minister, after eight years, is yet to act on this demand, seemingly trying to postpone the reservations by associating them with delimitation," said Ramesh. Gandhi's letter, shared by Ramesh, highlighted a request for support to pass the Women's Reservation Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament at that time.

"The Women's Reservation Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 9, 2010, yet it remains stalled in the Lok Sabha due to various pretexts for over eight years. The BJP supported the bill then, and the leader of the opposition, Arun Jaitley, termed it 'historic and momentous'," the letter from Gandhi stated. While Congress remains steadfast in its support, Gandhi expressed concern that the BJP had since reconsidered, despite its inclusion in their 2014 manifesto.

"Mr. Prime Minister, despite frequent mentions of women's empowerment in your rallies, the best way to prove your commitment is by backing the Women's Reservation Bill. The ideal time for this support would be the upcoming session of Parliament, as any delay will impede implementation before the next general elections," Gandhi appealed in his letter.

"Let's unite on empowering women, rise above party politics, and convey to India that the time for change has arrived. Women deserve rightful representation in state legislatures and Parliament, where they are currently underrepresented," added Gandhi.

The Congress party earlier criticized the government's delimitation-associated push under the guise of the women's quota, labeling it a defeat of "bulldozer politics." They argued the focus was on preserving Modi's position rather than ensuring women's reservation. Congress also urged the government to enact the women's quota based on the current Lok Sabha composition in either the Monsoon Session or by May-end.

These assertions follow the recent defeat of the government's Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lower House last Friday. The bill, which aimed to implement women's quota and increase Lok Sabha seats to 816, failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority. Out of 528 members who voted, 298 supported the Bill while 230 opposed it; it needed 352 votes.

The Bill proposed expanding Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816, facilitating the women's reservation law preceding the 2029 elections through delimitation based on the 2011 Census. It also suggested increasing seats in state assemblies and Union territories for a 33 per cent women's reservation.