NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday criticised the Centre over reports of a proposed special Parliament session to amend the women’s reservation law, taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accusing the government of reversing its earlier stance.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that the government now intends to implement the women’s quota without completing the delimitation and census processes, which were earlier cited as prerequisites when the law was passed in 2023. He termed the move a political diversion aimed at shifting focus from key national issues.
The women’s reservation legislation, formally known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, provides for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, including within seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Its implementation was originally linked to the completion of delimitation after the census exercise.
The Congress also raised concerns over reported plans to expand the strength of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, stating that such a significant step requires detailed discussion and consensus. Opposition parties have demanded that an all-party meeting be convened after the ongoing round of assembly elections to deliberate on the proposed amendments.
The party further questioned the timing of a possible special session, arguing that it could conflict with the Model Code of Conduct currently in force due to elections in several states.
Sources, however, indicated that the government may not immediately introduce the amendment bill in the current session, though the option of reconvening Parliament after the elections remains open. Consultations with various political stakeholders are ongoing, with discussions expected to shape the next steps on the proposed changes.