3 weeks ago
Congress: NCP MPs should convey INDIA bloc women's quota stand
India's Parliament passed a law in 2023 that reserves one out of every three legislature seats for women.
The special seats for women were intended to start after constituency boundaries are redrawn.
The government now wants to change the plan so the reservation starts in 2029, along with new Lok Sabha constituency maps.
The Congress and its opposition friends say women should get their seats right away, without waiting for the redrawing.
This redrawing process is called delimitation - the process of redrawing voting areas.
The Congress asked members of another opposition party, the NCP (SP), to tell Prime Minister Modi this.
The NCP (SP) members will meet the prime minister on Monday.
A Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, said no country can be successful if its women do not express themselves.
A government minister, Kiren Rijiju, called that a "change of heart" and said he hopes the Congress will support the plan fully.
In short, the two sides disagree about when women should get their reserved seats.
Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant urged NCP (SP) MPs to convey the INDIA bloc's stand on women's reservation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The INDIA alliance insists the 2023 Women's Reservation Bill be implemented immediately and not be linked to delimitation.
The government is making a fresh attempt to pass a Constitution Amendment Bill that would implement 33% women's reservation in 2029 and raise Lok Sabha seats to 816.
The earlier Constitution Amendment Bill was defeated in the last parliamentary session.
Rahul Gandhi said no country can succeed if its women do not express themselves, and Kiren Rijiju called it a "visible change of heart", hoping for unconditional Congress support.
- Who
- Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NCP (SP) MPs, Rahul Gandhi, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
- What
- The Congress urged NCP (SP) MPs to tell PM Modi that the INDIA bloc wants the 2023 women's reservation law implemented immediately, without linking it to delimitation.
- Where
- India - the remarks were made from Mumbai, Maharashtra, concerning legislation in Parliament.
- When
- Sunday, August 9, during Parliament's ongoing Monsoon Session; the NCP (SP) MPs' meeting with PM Modi is scheduled for Monday.
- Why
- To press the government to implement 33% women's reservation in legislatures immediately rather than tying it to the planned 2029 delimitation.
Opposition INDIA bloc
Central government (NDA)
Timing of women's reservation
Opposition INDIA bloc
The 2023 Women's Reservation Bill must be implemented immediately and must not be linked to delimitation.
Central government (NDA)
A fresh Constitution Amendment Bill would implement the 33% reservation in 2029, alongside redrawing Lok Sabha constituencies to 816 seats.
Congress support for the bill
Opposition INDIA bloc
Congress, via Rahul Gandhi, backs women's role in politics but conditions support on immediate implementation without a delimitation link.
Central government (NDA)
Kiren Rijiju sees Rahul Gandhi's remarks as a "visible change of heart" and hopes Congress will support the proposed legislation "unconditionally".
Key facts
- Event
- Debate over implementation of women's reservation in legislatures
- Reservation
- 33% of seats for women in legislatures
- Law
- Women's Reservation Bill, passed in 2023
- Proposed implementation
- 2029, linked to delimitation
- Lok Sabha seats
- Proposed increase to 816
- Parliamentary session
- Ongoing Monsoon Session
- Earlier bill status
- Constitution Amendment Bill defeated in the last session
- Upcoming meeting
- NCP (SP) MPs with PM Modi on Monday
Quotes
Sachin Sawant
Maharashtra Congress spokesperson
“The INDIA alliance’s unequivocal position is that the Women’s Reservation Bill, passed in 2023, must be implemented immediately and should not be linked to delimitation.”
theprint.in
“It is important that the unity of the INDIA alliance and its opposition to the Modi government on this issue is made unequivocally clear.”
theprint.in
Sources
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