5 days ago
Opposition Slams Centre Over Women’s Reservation Act Implementation
The Nari Shakti Vandan Act is a law about reserving seats in Parliament for women.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the government is considering how to put the law into effect.
Opposition parties said the law was already passed in 2023 and should be implemented now.
They said the government could use the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats.
Opposition leaders objected to waiting for delimitation and a Census.
They also questioned whether a special session of Parliament was needed.
Some opposition politicians said the announcement was timed before elections.
The government’s reported position is that implementation is under consideration.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Act is under active consideration.
Opposition parties called the announcement election-related drama and said the law should be implemented without waiting for delimitation.
They said reservation could begin using the existing 543-seat Lok Sabha strength.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi whether a special Parliament session would pass a proposed delimitation Bill.
Opposition leaders said linking implementation to a Census and delimitation could delay the law passed in 2023.
- Who
- The BJP-led government, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and opposition leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Arvind Sawant, Pappu Yadav, Arabinda Das, and Annie Raja.
- What
- A dispute has emerged over implementing the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, also called the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023.
- Where
- The debate concerns the Indian Parliament and Lok Sabha; the report is datelined New Delhi.
- When
- The opposition criticism and Meghwal’s comments were reported on Friday; the Act was passed in 2023.
- Why
- Opposition parties want implementation using the current 543 Lok Sabha seats, while they say the government is linking it to delimitation and a Census.
Opposition parties
Government position
Timing and implementation
Opposition parties
Opposition leaders said the Act was already passed in 2023 and accused the government of creating election-related drama instead of implementing it.
Government position
The government, through Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, said implementation is under active consideration.
Delimitation requirement
Opposition parties
Opposition parties said women’s reservation should be implemented using the current 543 Lok Sabha seats, without waiting for delimitation.
Government position
Opposition leaders said the law has been linked to delimitation and a Census; the government’s comments did not specify whether those conditions would be removed.
Parliamentary process
Opposition parties
Mallikarjun Kharge sought clarification about a special session, while opposition leaders objected to what they described as attempts to proceed without opposition consent.
Government position
Kiren Rijiju was reportedly reported as indicating that a special Parliament session could be convened.
Key facts
- Law
- Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, commonly known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Act.
- Government position
- Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said implementation is under active consideration.
- Opposition demand
- Implement women’s reservation using the existing 543-seat Lok Sabha without the delimitation condition.
- Parliamentary request
- Mallikarjun Kharge asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi whether a special session would be convened to pass a proposed delimitation Bill.
- Opposition criticism
- Leaders called the announcement election-related drama and alleged that implementation was being delayed.
- Stated conditions
- Opposition leaders said the law has been linked to delimitation and a Census.
Quotes
Arvind Sawant
Shiv Sena-UBT member of Parliament who criticised the government's position
“They (government) simply do not want poor, backward and middle-class women to advance in political life. They do not believe in Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution...and are not bothered about the Opposition's consent. They are just restless about the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.”
thehansindia.com
“Women are now being fooled by adding two conditions to the Bill: delimitation and Census. It has been made in a way that till the process of delimitation and Census is completed, the Women's Reservation Bill cannot be implemented.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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