Union Home Minister Amit Shah came in for criticism from the Shiv Sena (UBT) over his statement explaining the rationale behind the formation of a Delimitation Committee and the subsequent rollout of women’s quota. During the debate on the Bill in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the opposition demanded implementation of the women’s reservation quota law as soon as possible.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said that Shah’s statement is “hypocritical” as the bill from BJP’s 2014 manifesto, which had been stagnant for a considerable period, took 9 years to clear the first legislative roadblock in parliament.
Chaturvedi asserted, “His (Amit Shah’s) statement was hypocritical as the BJP made an electoral commitment to women 9 years ago, in its manifesto for the 2014 (Lok Sabha) elections, to bring a women’s reservation law. Despite them (BJP) being the largest single party (in the 2014 and 2019 LS polls) and many in the Opposition raising a chorus for the Bill, it took them 9 years to bring it to fruition. It was hypocritical also because of the (contentious) clause that the implementation of the law is subject to a census and a delimitation exercise. The census has been delayed since 2021.”
During the debate on the women’s reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Amit Shah said the Census and delimitation exercises would be conducted after the Lok Sabha polls next year and the women’s quota law would come into effect subsequently.
“The Census and delimitation exercises will be conducted soon after the (next general) elections, and women will have a greater voice in the Parliament,” he said.
Taking a dig at the BJP, Chaturvedi said, “The Census, which has been delayed since 2021, is not likely to happen this year either. My sense is that the delimitation won’t take place before 2029. Things might get a move on thereafter as a new Census is expected in 2031. They are merely hanging the Bill as a carrot to lure women voters. However, the women will see through their ploy and teach them a lesson (in 2024),” the Sena (UBT) MP added.
The women’s reservation bill aims to reserve 33 per cent quota for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was passed in Lok Sabha on Wednesday (September 20) after being stuck for twenty-seven years with near unanimity: 454 votes in favour and two from the AIMIM against it, providing one-third reservation to women in Lok Sabha and State assemblies.
The bill is now scheduled to be tabled in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. PM Narendra Modi, who strongly advocated the bill, was elated. “Delighted at the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill 2023 in Lok Sabha with such phenomenal support. I thank MPs across party lines who voted in support of this bill,” he posted on the social media site X.
“The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is a historic legislation that will further boost women’s empowerment and will enable even greater participation of women in our political process,” he tweeted.
The Manmohan Singh-led UPA government tabled the Bill in the Rajya Sabha in 2008, and it was passed in 2010. However, the Bill was never considered in the Lok Sabha.
(With inputs from ANI)
