SAD, Congress say women’s quota bill a ‘camouflage’ for delimitation; BJP denies bias

Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Punjab Congress on Wednesday alleged that the Centre is using the women's reservation law as a "camouflage" to push a population-based delimitation exercise they claim will disadvantage Punjab, a charge the BJP rejected.SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said Punjab would be the "biggest victim" of delimitation, arguing that states adhering to population control norms would lose out while others gain. He warned the move could skew parliamentary representation in favour of Hindi heartland states and weaken the federal structure. While asserting support for women's reservation, SAD said the provision was being used to "mask" a larger political move on delimitation and called for an all-party initiative to oppose it.Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring echoed the charge, terming delimitation a "hidden attack" on states like Punjab. He said the party would launch a mass mobilisation drive and urged the AAP govt to convene a special assembly session to pass a resolution opposing the move.Warring alleged that states such as Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Kerala would be disadvantaged, while Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh would gain, questioning the intent behind the exercise.Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar dismissed the allegation, saying concerns are being raised across states and would be addressed. "There will be no discrimination," he said, adding that clarity would emerge once the bill is introduced.