Women's quota bill an attempt to change electoral map: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha
Women's quota bill an attempt to change electoral map: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha
M.U.H
17/04/202615
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack in Parliament, accusing the government of using the proposed linkage between the Women's Reservation framework and delimitation to alter India's electoral landscape.
Gandhi argued that the Women's Reservation Bill passed in 2023 was the "real legislation", and alleged that the current move to tie its implementation to delimitation was a deliberate attempt to redraw political boundaries.
Targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, he claimed the party was seeking to reshape the country's political map, pointing to developments in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir as precedents. He also warned that similar changes at the national level would require a constitutional amendment and could significantly impact representation.
According to Gandhi, such a move would disproportionately reduce the political voice of southern states, northeastern states and smaller states. "You are telling the northeastern states, you are telling small states in India that in order for the BJP to remain in power, we are going to take away representation from you. This is nothing short of an anti-national act," he said.
"The first truth is that this is not a women's bill. This has nothing to do with the empowerment of women. This is an attempt to change the electoral map of India," he added.
His remarks triggered strong protests from the Treasury benches, with members rising in opposition during his speech.
He further alleged that the exercise was aimed at bypassing a caste census and limiting political representation for backward communities.
"It is a historical fact how Indian society treated Dalits, OBCs and their women. What is being attempted here is a bypass of the caste census. They are trying to avoid giving power and representation to my OBC brothers and sisters and taking power from them," Gandhi said.
Escalating his criticism, he accused the government of prioritising "Manuvad over Samvidhaan" and questioned the intent behind the caste census.
Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gandhi said, "He says the caste census has begun, repeating that houses don't have caste. The point is whether the caste census will be used in representation in Parliament and state assemblies. What you are trying to do is ensure that the caste census has nothing to do with representation for the next 15 years".
On delimitation, Gandhi alleged the BJP was acting out of political insecurity. "You are scared of the erosion of your strength and are trying to rejig the Indian political map. You did it in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, and now imagine you can do it across India," he said.
