Tharoor Criticizes Linking Women's Reservation to Delimitation

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor warns against tying women's reservation to delimitation, arguing it complicates the process and harms federal balance. Speaking in Parliament, he urged immediate action on the Women's Reservation Bill and cautioned against rushing the delimitation exercise, which could deepen regional disparities.

Shashi Tharoor, a Congress Member of Parliament, voiced strong objections in the Parliament on Friday against linking women's reservation to the delimitation process. He described this approach as 'holding the aspirations of Indian women hostage' and cautioned that such a move could 'tear the fabric of federalism.'

Tharoor urged the government to pass the Women's Reservation Bill without delay, emphasizing that further discussions on delimitation should be postponed. He criticized the Prime Minister's proposal that ties women's rights to changes based on the 2011 Census and the contentious delimitation exercise.

The MP from Thiruvananthapuram argued that the delimitation process, if hurried, could create disparities between states that have managed population growth and those that haven't. Tharoor emphasized that delimitation should be carefully deliberated, not rushed, to avoid exacerbating regional imbalances and risking federal instability.

(With inputs from agencies.)