Women MPs from the Opposition expressed their disagreement with the Centre’s move to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill during the extended Budget session. They claimed that these measures were being unfairly connected for the BJP’s benefit. However, they support the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act of 2023.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra criticized the government for linking the Women’s Reservation Bill with other issues to potentially increase BJP’s seats. She accused the Central government of favoring Hindi-heartland states and penalizing states that have improved education and controlled population growth.
Moitra highlighted the reduction in the share of south Indian states from 24% to 20% due to the proposed changes. She emphasized that Delimitation has no direct correlation with women’s reservation and criticized the government for deviating from its earlier commitments regarding the census and delimitation process.
DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi voiced opposition to the Bills and expressed hope that they would be withdrawn before voting. She raised concerns about the lack of clarity in the proposed Delimitation Bill and its potential impact on south Indian states. Karunanidhi emphasized the need to separate the Women’s Reservation Bill from the Delimitation Bill for effective implementation.
Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav also opposed the amendments, stating that the party does not support using delimitation for political advantage. She stressed the importance of following the 2023 Women’s Reservation Bill timeline, which includes conducting a census before implementing seat reservations for women.
