Special Parliament session Live: Lok Sabha Speaker OM Birla meets MPs after Parliament adjourned Sine Die

The atmosphere in the House suggests that the hearts of the PDA MPs sitting on the other side are with us. What trust should we place in their (BJP's) promises? They made many promises. Therefore, no trust can be placed in their promises. The BJP can do anything. Even before the voting, the BJP can do anything: Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party chief and Lok Sabha MP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wrapped the gift of justice to 'nari shakti' in "barbed wire" by linking the implementation of women's reservation to the expansion of Parliament, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said on Friday and asserted that delimitation will turn out to be "political demonetisation."

Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on the three bills introduced for amendments in the women's quota law and setting up a delimitation commission, Tharoor demanded that delimitation be deferred. He called for ensuring that the "march toward a 'New India' does not give us a disunited India".

The MP from Thiruvananthapuram said linking women's reservation with delimitation is to hold the aspirations of Indian women hostage to "one of the most contentious and complex" administrative exercises in the country's history.

"The issues surrounding delimitation require extensive consultation with all stakeholders, including all state governments, all political parties, and civil society. It cannot be rushed," he said.

"I urge the government to decouple these issues and pass the Women's Reservation Bill today, we will support it. The PM spoke with passion about nari shakti. Let it take effect in the next general election, using our current seat count. Show the women of India that your commitment is not mere rhetorical flourish," the senior Congress leader said. (PTI)

"I would say to all the MPs...

Listen to your conscience, remembering the mother, sister, daughter, wife in your own home...

This is a great opportunity to serve the nation's woman power, to pay homage to them.

Do not deprive them of new opportunities.

If this amendment is passed by consensus, the nation's woman power will be further strengthened… the country's democracy will be further strengthened.

Come… let us together create history today. Give the women of India… the country's half population… their due rights," he said on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a detailed discussion on amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is underway in Parliament, noting that the debate continued till 1 am.

He said misconceptions around the bill have been addressed, with all concerns clarified and necessary information shared with members.

Calling it a long-pending issue, Modi said women’s reservation has been politicised for decades and stressed that it is now time to ensure proper representation for women in decision-making.

With voting expected shortly in the Lok Sabha, he appealed to all political parties to support the bill, urging members to act with sensitivity and not hurt the sentiments of “Nari Shakti”.

Minister of state Anupriya Patel, speaking in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill, said it presents a “historic opportunity” for Parliament.

She added that “half the country is keenly watching” the proceedings, highlighting the significance of the legislation.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha, speaking in the Rajya Sabha, highlighted the absence of his party’s top leadership in the House.

“The leader of the party I belong to is not present in the House. The newly appointed deputy leader of the party I belong to is also not present… I am the recently removed deputy leader, and I am present,” he said, thanking the Chair for the opportunity to speak.

Congress MP Kumari Selja said opposition parties have clearly stated their stance on women’s reservation and delimitation, questioning the BJP’s position on the issue.

“Everyone has made their stance clear… The BJP’s position is not at all clear,” she said, alleging that the government has not even begun implementing the previous law or issued its notification.

She added that the ruling party now stands “exposed” on the matter.

Congress MPs on Friday accused the Centre of misleading the House on the Women's Reservation Bill and opposed its linkage with the proposed Delimitation Bill, demanding an all-party meeting before voting.

Congress MP Mallu Ravi alleged the Prime Minister was making "misleading statements" on the floor of the House and added that the party had sought an all-party meeting ahead of the vote.

"Prime minister is giving misleading statements on the floor of the house. He knows that the Congress party is very serious about passing the bill... They have linked it with the delimitation. That is why we are opposing the bill... We made a request to call for all party meetings before the voting. But they are not calling it... They are saying that if anybody opposes it, they will have to pay a penalty, and they will lose their seats..."," he told ANI.

Chennithala said there was “no sincerity” behind the Women Reservation Amendment Bill.

“If they (Centre) are sincere about women reservation, they should implement it in the current number of seats in the Lok Sabha,” he told reporters in Delhi.

He said the Opposition is unitedly opposing the amendment as it is aimed at “destroying” the unity and democracy in the country.

Chennithala further claimed that the bills have been brought in “haste”.

“These will not benefit the country. It will only weaken the democracy in the country. The amendments have been brought with an eye on the elections. Therefore, the bills should be withdrawn,” he contended.

"As far as delimitation is concerned, whatever the proposal by the government of India is perfect... In every state, there will be a 50% increase in the MP seats and assembly seats... It is unfortunate," he said while talking to reporters.

He further added, "Regarding Telangana, they are protesting against the statement of Tejasvi Surya; it is his opinion"

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, said, "The Prime Minister says the Government has bought Nari Shakti a gift of justice. But he has wrapped it in barbed wire, tethering the implementation of women's reservation to the expansion of Parliament, to numbers from the 2011 Census and an exercise of delimitation. Why must we entangle a moral imperative with a demographic minefield? Women's reservation is ready for harvest... To link it to delimitation is to hold the aspirations of Indian women hostage to one of the most contentious and complex administrative exercises in our nation's history."

DMK MP Kanimozhi criticised the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, calling the proposed delimitation exercise to increase Lok Sabha seats the “greatest assault on the federal structure.”

Addressing the Lok Sabha while wearing a black saree as a mark of protest, she also questioned the Centre’s decision to notify the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, in the Gazette on Thursday, even as the women’s reservation legislation was under discussion in Parliament.

Kanimozhi said, “I not only stand as a representative of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, but also eight crore people who have been told amidst the elections that their votes will count less and their voice in this Parliament will be diminished. It is really shocking. We are discussing the Bill here, so what was the need to notify it yesterday? What is the respect you have for this House? These three bills are disguised as if they are in support of reservation for women, constitute the single greatest assault on federal structure.”

Terming population-based delimitation unfair to southern states, she said Tamil Nadu had already completed its demographic transition, pointing to its low fertility rate.

She said, “Delimitation at its heart stands as a promise to the southern states. Five states which have resisted the onslaught of the BJP and stood out as models for development. We listened to the government's call to control the population. We complied, and our fertility rates fell. In 2001, there was a government which listened to the voices of the South. We have to give you (the BJP) the credit where it's due. It gave 24 more years, because the then Parliament understood that this injustice needed to be addressed. Why do we have to increase the seats to 850 now? The statement of objectives states that the demographics have changed, yet you are using 15-year-old 2011 census data to conduct delimitation. You are contradicting yourself. Most of the MPs might not even get a chance to speak in Parliament. Today, Tamil Nadu's fertility rate is 1.6, lower than that of France, Australia and the United States. We have completed a demographic transition. Uttar Pradesh's population has grown by 120 per cent since 1971 and Tamil Nadu's only by 15 per cent.”