Kharge says Congress opposed delimitation, not Women’s Quota Bill, slams Modi

The Congress on Monday (April 20) launched a two-pronged attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre after he accused the grand old party of blocking the Constitution amendment bill to implement women's quota in legislatures from 2029.

Congress draws line between quota and delimitation

While Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the Opposition has opposed only the delimitation bill, the party during the day claimed the Centre’s actual agenda was the “preservation” of PM Modi.

Also Read: Nari Shakti: A convoluted stratagem to preserve male dominance

Addressing a rally in Cooch Behar, West Bengal, Kharge refuted the PM’s charge against Opposition parties committing "foeticide" after the bill to implement 33 per cent women's reservation in legislatures in 2029 was derailed in the Lok Sabha. He accused the PM of “killing” the bill.

"It is you (Modi) who killed the women's reservation bill; we fought against the Delimitation Bill and not against the bill on women's quota,” said Kharge.

Cites legacy, questions intent

"We are always keen to ensure the rights and welfare of women", said the Congress president, adding that his party has had women leaders like Sarojini Naidu, Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.

Also Read: Govt issues FAQs to defend women's quota amid Opposition’s delimitation allegations

Earlier in the day, the party said that said the striking down of the Modi government's delimitation push in the garb of women's quota was a defeat of "bulldozer politics" and that the Centre's agenda was not women's reservation but PM Modi's "preservation".

The opposition party also demanded that the Centre immediately implement the women's quota on the existing Lok Sabha strength by bringing a bill in Parliament's Monsoon Session or May-end.

Demand for immediate rollout of quota

The Congress asserted that women would not be fooled by the "BJP propaganda" on the women's quota issue, as they know that the ruling party wants to push its political agenda in their name.

Also Read: PM Modi attacks TMC over women’s quota bill, says Bengal voters will punish party

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said that the defeat of the government's "nefarious" designs to push delimitation in the garb of women's reservation was a victory of the Constitution and democracy.

"It was the defeat of the politics of bulldozer and a rushed delimitation. The Bill was not about women's reservation but one of pushing delimitation through deceit," Ramesh said.

Timing of notification comes under scrutiny

He said the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed unanimously in September 2023, but it was not implemented despite Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanding that it be implemented from the 2024 general elections.

"Suddenly, the bill (Act) was notified on the night of 16th April. This reflects the seriousness of the BJP about women's reservation in legislatures. They kept sleeping for 30 months," he added.

The Congress' assertion came days after the government's Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to implement women's quota and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 was defeated in the Lower House on Friday.

(With agency inputs)