Opposition slams delimitation formula in women's quota bill

New Delhi: More opposition leaders questioned the Modi government's intention in pushing a constitutional amendment to the Women's Reservation Act, rejecting the delimitation formula while tactically steering clear of the sensitive women's quota issue.

While Congress leader Sonia Gandhi backed party president Mallikarjun Kharge's criticism by alleging that the real issue in the proposed bill is the "extremely dangerous" delimitation proposals that can affect some states, CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat demanded that the government bring back the women's reservation bill as passed in 2010 by the Rajya Sabha by deleting the linkages to delimitation incorporated by Article 334(A) of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

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"It appears that some formula for delimitation is being suggested. Any delimitation must be preceded by a Census exercise as in the past. And it goes without saying that any delimitation involving an increase in the strength of the Lok Sabha must be politically, and not just arithmetically, equitable," Sonia Gandhi said in an article published on Monday. "States that have been pioneers in family planning, and smaller States, must not be placed at an absolute or relative disadvantage. A proportionate increase may, in fact, result in the loss of relative influence because the difference in absolute numbers get magnified."

Brinda Karat said, "The Modi government is using the women reservation bill to implement its anti-democratic agenda. My demand is that the government should bring back the women's reservation Bill as passed in 2010 by the Rajya Sabha by deleting the linkages to delimitation incorporated by the Article 334(A) of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam."

Gandhi also pushed for deferring the bill until the completion of the ongoing elections. "The heavens will not fall if the government were to call an all-party meeting after April 29, to discuss its proposals with the Opposition, allowing time for a public debate, and then have the Constitution Amendment Bills considered in the monsoon session," she wrote. "Reservation for women is not the issue here. That has already been settled. The real issue is delimitation which, based on the information unofficially available, is extremely dangerous and an assault on the Constitution itself." The Congress issued a whip to its MPs for the three-day Parliament sitting from Thursday.

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CPI parliamentarian P Sandosh Kumar said, "But what the BJP is trying to do is to make certain political gains out of it. For example, what about this delimitation? Is there any criteria? There is a growing concern among southern states, especially that the number of southern states will be reduced. To address that question, the Prime Minister stated that 50% increase in all states. Even then, the north-south gap will widen... Women's reservation is a must. We all support that. But at the same time, it should not be at the cost of some states' interests."