New Delhi: A prominent Congress leader has voiced strong opposition to the government’s approach of linking the implementation of women’s reservation with the delimitation process and expansion of Parliament, arguing that it holds the aspirations of Indian women hostage.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, representing Thiruvananthapuram, stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has enveloped the ‘gift of justice’ to ‘nari shakti’ in “barbed wire” by tying women’s quota to the delimitation exercise. He asserted that this delimitation process will ultimately prove to be “political demonetisation,” drawing a parallel to the perceived negative impact of demonetisation on the country.
Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha concerning three bills aimed at amending the women’s quota law and establishing a delimitation commission, Tharoor urged the deferral of the delimitation process. He cautioned that the pursuit of a ‘New India’ should not lead to a disunited nation.
Tharoor articulated that linking women’s reservation to delimitation is an unacceptable move, effectively making the hopes of Indian women contingent upon one of the nation’s most complex and contentious administrative exercises. He emphasized that any delimitation requires extensive consultations with all stakeholders, including state governments, political parties, and civil society, and cannot be rushed.
He implored the government to separate these issues, advocating for the immediate passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, which he assured would receive the Congress party’s support. Tharoor urged the Prime Minister to demonstrate a commitment to women by implementing the reservation based on the current seat count in the upcoming general election, rather than making it conditional.
The leader stressed the necessity of deferring delimitation and establishing a formal mechanism, such as a joint parliamentary committee, to deliberate on a new federal settlement that safeguards the interests of all states. He called for providing women their due promptly while allowing the nation time to address demographic challenges with wisdom rather than mere arithmetic.
Tharoor acknowledged the broad political consensus favouring women’s reservation, noting that major parties recognize the end of tokenism and the commencement of a new era of collective partnership.
He reiterated that the Prime Minister’s assertion of delivering a gift of justice to women was undermined by linking it to parliamentary expansion, census data from 2011, and the delimitation exercise. Tharoor questioned the entanglement of a moral imperative with a demographic minefield, stating that women’s reservation is ‘ready for harvest’ and should be implemented immediately based on existing parliamentary strength.
He warned that any delimitation exercise is inherently fraught with complications that could strain the fabric of Indian federalism. Tharoor criticized the haste with which delimitation was proposed, comparing it to the hurried implementation of demonetisation, which he argued had caused significant damage to the country.
The Congress MP highlighted at least three major fault lines in the proposed delimitation: the balance between smaller and larger states, the disparity between states that have diligently pursued population control and human development goals (particularly in the South) and those predominantly in the North, and the distinction between states that are economic engines and net recipients of central funds. He argued that a delimitation based solely on population would further marginalize states contributing significantly to the national exchequer, potentially leading to a “tyranny of the demographic majority.”
Tharoor also expressed skepticism about the “50 per cent formula” mentioned by Home Minister Amit Shah, which promised that no state would lose its current seat count. He described this pledge as a “precarious political assurance” rather than a certainty, noting that the legislation grants the delimitation commission total freedom, with decisions being unchallengeable in court. He warned that this assurance could be easily discarded or altered by a simple parliamentary majority, lacking any long-term constitutional safeguard.
Furthermore, Tharoor raised concerns about expanding the Lok Sabha to an 850-member House, arguing it would create an unwieldy and unworkable legislature. He also pointed to the absence of a corresponding proposal to increase the Rajya Sabha’s strength, which he believes would significantly alter the balance between the two houses, particularly in joint sittings where the Lok Sabha would dominate. This imbalance, he added, could also impact presidential and vice-presidential elections.
Citing the example of the European Parliament’s practice of “degressive proportionality,” Tharoor suggested that similar options warrant discussion and debate to arrive at a suitable solution.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, intended to modify the women’s quota law, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday following a division of votes. Alongside this, two other bills—the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill—were introduced to implement the proposed amended women’s quota law in the Union Territories of Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
