Contentious Amendments: Women's Quota and Delimitation Bills Stir Debate in Lok Sabha

Union ministers introduced three bills in the Lok Sabha to amend the women's quota law and set up a delimitation commission amidst opposition protests. The opposition argues these are anti-constitutional and question the process. The bills propose increasing Lok Sabha and assembly seats for women's reservation by 2029.

In a significant move, Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Amit Shah on Thursday tabled three controversial bills in the Lok Sabha. These bills aim to amend the women's quota law and establish a delimitation commission, triggering a wave of protests from opposition parties.

The opposition criticized the proposed changes, labeling them as anti-constitutional. Congress' K C Venugopal questioned the exclusion of these provisions when the women's quota law was previously passed. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav highlighted the urgency of the bills and the absence of a new Census.

Home Minister Amit Shah responded by confirming the ongoing Census 2027 and plans for caste enumeration, while dismissing reservations based on religion as unconstitutional. The draft amendment suggests increasing Lok Sabha seats to 850 and implementing a 33% women's reservation by 2029, sparking a unified opposition against the delimitation clause.

(With inputs from agencies.)