Jammu, April 16: Senior Congress leader and former DDC Taranjit Singh Tony on Thursday reiterated that while the Congress party unequivocally supports women’s reservation, its implementation must not be linked to a delimitation exercise based on outdated Census data.
Backing the party’s stand, Tony said Parliament had unanimously passed the Women’s Reservation Bill in 2023, and it is already part of the Constitution. “There is no ambiguity — Congress fully supports women’s reservation,” he said.
However, he raised serious concerns over the Centre’s proposed amendment, alleging that it has little to do with women’s empowerment. “What is being proposed now is an attempted power grab through delimitation and gerrymandering,” Tony asserted.
He emphasized that any delimitation exercise should be conducted only after the 2026 Census, ensuring updated and accurate demographic data, particularly for OBC communities. “Relying on the 2011 Census will lead to injustice, imbalance, and distortion in representation,” he said.
The former DDC warned that ignoring caste census data could result in “hissa chori” from OBCs, Dalits and Adivasis, depriving them of their rightful share. He stressed that backward classes form a significant portion of the population and must be represented proportionately.
Tony also expressed concern that the proposed delimitation could adversely impact southern, northeastern, northwestern and smaller states, potentially reducing their representation in Parliament. “Delimitation must be politically equitable, not just a numerical exercise. It should strengthen democracy, not weaken the federal balance,” he added.
Reiterating the party’s position, Tony said Congress will support women’s reservation in full spirit but will oppose any move that links it with politically motivated delimitation or undermines social justice.
He urged the government to adopt a transparent and inclusive approach, ensuring that women’s reservation is implemented fairly without compromising equitable representation across communities and regions.