Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a special Parliament session on Thursday, assuring that the delimitation process would be fair and free from bias. His remarks came amid concerns and strong objections from Opposition MPs, who argue that the exercise could disproportionately affect non-BJP states, particularly in the South.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday assured that the delimitation process – long a point of contention between the ruling NDA and Opposition parties – would be fair and free from bias. “I guarantee that no state will face injustice, from East to West and North to South,” he said in the Lok Sabha.
A special Parliament session commenced earlier in the day to deliberate on three bills introduced in the Lok Sabha: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which seeks to modify the women’s reservation law, along with the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill and the Delimitation Bill. These measures aim to implement the proposed women’s quota in Union Territories including Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir.
The session opened with a heated 40-minute debate between the NDA and the Opposition, following which the Opposition demanded a division of votes before the introduction of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill. Ultimately, the bill was introduced with 251 members voting in favour and 185 opposing it.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also urged Opposition MPs not to view the women’s reservation bill through a political lens, warning that those who opposed such measures in the past were not forgiven by women across the country.
“I appeal to you not to see this politically; this is a decision in the national interest,” he said, adding that the 33% reservation is not a “gift” but a rightful entitlement of women.