Delimitation Debacle: Women's Reservation Bill Entangled in Political Tug-of-War

Shashi Tharoor criticizes Prime Minister Narendra Modi for linking women's reservation to delimitation, which he argues is complex and contentious. Tharoor suggests decoupling the issues to pass the Women's Reservation Bill immediately, warning that current plans could disrupt India's federal balance and echo political missteps like demonetization.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approach to implementing women's reservation, claiming it is tangled in unnecessary political complexity. Tharoor argues that linking the reservation to delimitation is akin to political demonetization, posing risks to India's federal unity.

In a heated Lok Sabha debate, Tharoor called for the immediate passage of the Women's Reservation Bill, independent of the delimitation process. He warned that the current approach could lead to a political and demographic imbalance akin to the fallout from demonetization. Tharoor emphasized the need for extensive consultations and a delay in delimitation procedures to safeguard India's federal fabric.

The MP from Thiruvananthapuram stressed that while women's reservation has near-universal support, the added entanglement with delimitation is unwarranted and could disrupt the current political equilibrium. He urged the government to act decisively by separating the two issues and ensuring women's empowerment does not become collateral damage in a political impasse.

(With inputs from agencies.)