PM Modi accuses DMK of stalling delimitation, women’s reservation push

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (April 18) accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of blocking the Delimitation Bill in the Lok Sabha, arguing that Tamil Nadu stood to gain additional seats under the 2011 Census but was prevented from doing so. He further alleged that the Opposition had delayed the rollout of the Women’s Reservation Bill.

Delimitation and reservation push

Speaking at a rally in Coimbatore, PM Modi said the effort had been “derailed” by the DMK, Congress and their allies, whom he accused of turning the issue into “hatred and petty politics.”

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“Based on the 2011 census, Tamil Nadu was going to get so many more seats, but clearly DMK did not want this to happen. Their actions are now clearly exposed,” he said.

Focus on women’s representation

The Prime Minister also said that he felt both “pain and anger” over the developments. He pointed to the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in 2023 and a recent step taken on April 16 toward implementing women’s reservation in Parliament and State Assemblies.

“I personally appealed to all the political parties to support this. I told them clearly that they may take the credit; I have no objection. I only wanted sisters from ordinary families to come to the Parliament and Assemblies in greater numbers,” he said.

‘DMK has no achievements’

He added that he would return to the subject in more detail during a scheduled address to the nation at 8.30 pm.

“Today, DMK has no achievements to showcase, no real issues to raise. This is why they resorted to spreading false fears about reduction in Tamil Nadu's seats. DMK said earlier that the current proportional representation must be maintained, and we proposed it as well. But now they took a U-turn,” PM Modi said.

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The Prime Minister also questioned the Opposition’s stance on women’s political participation, taking aim at what he described as “one-family parties.”

“Why does it trouble DMK and Congress to see women rise? These one-family parties want power to remain confined within their own families,” he said.

Criticism of DMK’s record

He further criticised the DMK’s public messaging, saying symbolic protests would not conceal its record.

“People know your black deeds, and you cannot escape them any longer. I want to assure you all that this is not the end of our fight, but just the beginning. BJP and NDA will keep fighting for your rights,” he said.

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PM Modi went on to accuse the DMK of failing women both in governance and in Parliament.

“DMK harms women in Tamil Nadu by enabling violence and crime. They do not stand with women in Parliament either, but now their anti-women ideology will definitely get a befitting reply,” he added.