NEW DELHI — Congress MP Imran Masood has strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation, alleging that the government attempted to use the Women’s Reservation Bill as a cover to introduce broader electoral changes.
Speaking in Delhi, Masood claimed that the Centre was trying to implement delimitation under the guise of the Women’s Reservation Bill, suggesting that the move was aimed at altering the country’s electoral structure. According to him, the linkage between the two issues created unnecessary complications and raised concerns among opposition parties.
He argued that the core objective of women’s reservation was overshadowed by political strategy, and that the government’s approach shifted the focus away from genuine empowerment. Masood maintained that there is wide support across political parties for increasing women’s representation, but the way the bill was structured led to distrust.
The Congress leader further alleged that the government is willing to take extreme steps to retain power, claiming that electoral considerations were driving key decisions. He suggested that such moves could have long-term implications for democratic processes and institutional balance.
Masood’s remarks come in the backdrop of the failure of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, which required a two-thirds majority but fell short of the mark. The bill aimed to provide 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, but its linkage with delimitation became a major point of contention.
Opposition leaders have consistently argued that women’s reservation should be implemented independently, without tying it to electoral boundary changes. They believe that combining the two issues not only delays implementation but also introduces political complexities.
On the other hand, the ruling alliance has defended its approach, stating that delimitation is a constitutional process and that aligning it with women’s reservation would streamline implementation in the long term.
Political analysts note that the debate has now expanded beyond women’s reservation to include broader concerns about electoral reforms and representation, with both sides presenting sharply contrasting narratives.
Masood reiterated that any reform affecting the electoral system should be undertaken with transparency and consensus, rather than being introduced alongside other major legislative changes.
Imran Masood’s statement adds to the growing criticism from opposition leaders, highlighting concerns that the government’s approach to the Women’s Reservation Bill was driven by political strategy rather than purely by the goal of empowering women.
