Women’s quota bill: Rijiju rejects all-party meet demand, wants ‘constructive cooperation’

Questioning the Congress's demand for an all-party meeting, the government on Monday (October 19) asserted that it has made consistent efforts for dialogue with the opposition for the passage of the delimitation-linked women reservation bill and what is now required is constructive cooperation from all parties.

In a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju underlined that the government values the participation of all political parties in deliberations and discussions on all matters of national importance and expressed the hope that the Congress will play a constructive role and not obstruct important future legislations.

Rijiju wrote in response to Kharge's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an all-party meeting before the Constitution amendment bill is taken up for consideration in Parliament.

On Parliament not being prorogued

"I am writing to you to clarify certain points and place on record the facts regarding the efforts made by the government to engage with the Opposition on this subject.

First, with regard to your observation that the Parliament has not been prorogued even though 64 days have elapsed since the House was adjourned sine die on 13 August 2026, I would like to clarify that there is no constitutional requirement prescribing a specific period within which a House must be prorogued following its adjournment sine die," he said.

The parliamentary affairs minister said the mere fact that a House has not been prorogued during such an interval does not, by itself, give rise to any constitutional or procedural impropriety or irregularity.

Also Read: Congress says ‘nefarious attempt' to link women quota with delimitation defeated

He said there have been innumerable instances in the past in which Houses remained unprorogued for long periods, extending up to 87 days.

In 2008, the Lok Sabha sat for two days, on July 2lst and 22nd, for the confidence motion; the House was then kept unprorogued, reconvened on October 17, 2008, and was adjourned on October 24 to meet again on December 10.

Rijiju said there are several other such instances: 1987 (76 days), 1989 (54 days), 2006 (49 days), 2013 (49 days), and 1963 (41 days).

Delimitation Amendment Bill

"Second, the government has consistently sought the opposition's support and cooperation for the consideration and passage of the Delimitation Amendment Bill. The government has reached out to the Congress party, being the principal opposition party, on several occasions," he said.

The minister said he wrote to Kharge on March 16, March 26, and April 12 this year and had also discussed the matter with him personally and sought his support and cooperation.

Rijiju said that during the Monsoon Session, he also met Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, personally for a discussion and sought his cooperation on this subject.

Also Read: Rahul hits back at Rijiju, asks why Women’s Reservation Bill is linked to delimitation

"However, after repeated requests, the Congress party didn't give dates for a discussion, after which the government's outreach had extended to other political parties.

"Consultations were held with representatives of parties including the DMK, SP, YSRCP, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM, and BJD with a view to facilitating dialogue and building a broader consensus in support of the proposed legislation," he said.

In these circumstances, the minister said, it is not clear why the demand for consultation is being made repeatedly, when the government has already made sustained efforts for dialogue.

Calls for ‘constructive cooperation’

What is now required is constructive cooperation from the opposition parties, rather than a repetition of the same demand without due regard to the consultations already undertaken, the minister said.

"These efforts reflect the government's firm willingness to undertake consultation and constructive parliamentary engagement. I reiterate that the government remains committed to the basic principles of parliamentary democracy and to facilitating meaningful dialogue through the effective functioning of Parliament," he said in the letter.

(With agency inputs)