Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed apprehensions in the Lok Sabha about the proposed delimitation exercise, likening it to “political demonetisation” and emphasizing its significance for democracy. Tharoor highlighted the importance of women’s reservation, noting the unanimous political support for it and urging its immediate implementation without being tied to delimitation based on the 2011 Census.
Tharoor criticized the government’s stance, pointing out the linkage of women’s reservation to the delimitation process. He argued that the implementation of women’s reservation should not be delayed by the complexities of delimitation, which he described as a significant shift in political power. Tharoor cautioned against rushing the delimitation process, drawing parallels to the hasty decision-making seen in demonetization.
Emphasizing the need for extensive consultations, Tharoor raised concerns about the impact of delimitation on states’ political representation. He highlighted the potential consequences for states that have excelled in governance and economic contributions, warning against marginalizing their voices through the delimitation exercise. Tharoor cautioned that the current approach could lead to a disproportionate influence of certain states, risking a dominance of the democratic majority.
