NEW DELHI — Congress MP Manickam Tagore has strongly criticised the government’s approach to the Women’s Reservation Bill, arguing that the issue has been unnecessarily complicated by linking it with delimitation.
Speaking in Delhi, Tagore said that the current proposal should not be seen as a fresh Women’s Reservation Bill, as the legislation providing reservation for women had already been passed in 2023. He подчеркнул that the earlier bill is a notified act and remains valid.
He alleged that the focus has now shifted to delimitation, which he described as a discriminatory move, particularly against southern, eastern, and northeastern states. According to him, the proposed delimitation exercise could alter political representation in a way that disadvantages regions that have effectively managed population growth.
Tagore stated that women across the country are aware of these developments and cannot be misled, asserting that the broader public understands the distinction between the original reservation law and the current proposals being debated.
He also referred to senior government leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying they are aware that the Women’s Reservation Bill was already passed and notified earlier.
The Congress leader further argued that if the government’s intention is genuinely to ensure women’s rights and representation, the provisions of the 2023 law can be implemented from 2029, without linking it to additional processes like delimitation.
His remarks come amid ongoing political debate following the failure of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. Opposition parties have consistently maintained that women’s reservation should be implemented independently, while criticising the government for combining it with electoral boundary changes.
The Women’s Reservation Bill, which seeks to reserve 33 percent of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women, has long been a subject of political discussion. While there is broad agreement on the need for increased representation, differences over implementation have led to continued delays.
Tagore’s comments reflect the Congress party’s stance that the core objective of women’s empowerment should not be overshadowed by other political or procedural considerations.
The debate around the bill continues to intensify, with both the ruling alliance and opposition presenting contrasting views on how and when the long-pending reform should be implemented.
