New Delhi, Apr 07 : Actor turned politician Ravi Kishan has strongly supported the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, stating that increased representation will empower women leaders to raise grassroots concerns more effectively in Parliament.
Speaking in Patna, Kishan praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying women voters consistently show strong support for his leadership. He added that the proposed 33% reservation in Parliament would bring a new wave of participation and energy among women representatives.
The Centre has announced a special Parliament session beginning April 16, where it plans to introduce amendments to fast track the implementation of the reservation law. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed that discussions will include expanding Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816 to accommodate the quota provisions.
Opposition Raises Concerns Over Timing
The proposal has drawn criticism from Opposition leaders, particularly Jairam Ramesh, who questioned the sudden urgency behind the move. He argued that the government had earlier linked the law’s implementation to delimitation and census exercises under Article 334A, and is now reversing its stance.
Ramesh alleged that the decision is politically motivated and aimed at diverting attention from economic concerns while influencing voters in upcoming state elections. He emphasized that the Congress had already supported immediate implementation of the law back in 2023.
Government Seeks Consensus
Prime Minister Modi has urged Opposition parties to extend full support to the amendment, stressing that women’s empowerment should remain above political disagreements. Meanwhile, consultations have been held with several NDA allies by Home Minister Amit Shah, although key Opposition parties are yet to be fully engaged.
The proposed framework suggests reserving 273 out of 816 seats for women, including provisions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Constituency restructuring is likely to be based on the 2011 Census data.