Rijiju welcomes SAD's revised stand on women's quota, delimitation

New Delhi: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday welcomed the Shiromani Akali Dal's revised stand on the women's quota and delimitation issue, saying all parties must come together to empower women with a fair and equitable delimitation of seats.

This came after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) demanded that Parliament pass the women's reservation bill and the delimitation bill with a uniform 50 per cent increase in seats for states so that they are implemented without further delay.

SAD announced its revised stand on the delimitation issue a day after party president Sukhbir Singh Badal met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, leaving political circles abuzz with talks of a potential patch-up with the BJP.


Commenting on the development, Rijiju said in a post on X, "I wholeheartedly welcome this very important decision taken by Shiromani Akali Dal following the example set by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee."

"We must come together to empower women with a fair and equitable delimitation that ensures equal representation," the parliamentary affairs minister added.

The government is making a fresh attempt for the passage of a Constitution Amendment Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and redraw the Lok Sabha constituencies to increase their number to 816 in the ongoing Monsoon Session, by reaching out to opposition leaders and NDA allies.

SAD has one Lok Sabha member.

The Constitution Amendment Bill was defeated in the last session.

In another post on X, Rijiju said the SAD's support for the immediate implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill and a fair, equitable delimitation ensuring equal representation for all states sends a strong message.

"This is a positive approach in the larger national interest. A uniform 50 per cent increase in seats across all states is a constructive step towards wider representation," the minister said.