New Delhi: Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre on Friday of advancing its political agenda under the pretext of women’s reservation, during debate on three related bills.
“This is not a women's reservation bill, and it has nothing to do with women's empowerment. This is an attempt to change India's electoral map under the guise of women's rights,” Gandhi said. “The Women's Reservation Bill was passed in 2023. Bring back the old bill, and we'll support it.”
He claimed the measures sideline a caste census, denying marginalised and OBC communities rightful representation. “It is a shameful act because instead of giving reservations to them, the government is hiding behind reservations and using them as a garb to pursue its political objective,” he added.
Gandhi alleged the BJP fears erosion of its strength and seeks to rejig the electoral landscape nationwide, citing prior changes in Assam and Jammu & Kashmir. Rallying against reduced Southern representation post-delimitation, he vowed Congress opposition. “You are telling Southern, Northern and other smaller states that in order to ensure that BJP remains in power, we are trying to take away your representation,” he said, labelling it an “anti-national act”.
He further challenged the government on OBC and Dalit under-representation in bureaucracy, judiciary, private sector, and corporate India. “You label them as Hindus but don’t give them space in legislative structure,” Gandhi remarked.
(Inputs from IANS)