New Delhi, Apr 12 (PTI) Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday told Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge that delaying implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act is nothing but delaying justice to millions of women and asked the principal opposition party to rise above politics and come forward to support its implementation in 2029 for ‘nari shakti’.
In response to Kharge’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which the Congress chief accused the government of hurrying the implementation of the women’s reservation law for “political mileage”, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said it is not about politics but about “keeping our promise” to the daughters of India.
Rijiju said the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ was the result of a long-cherished national aspiration and a genuinely joint effort across the political spectrum. “It reflected the collective promise to the women across the country,” he said in a letter to Kharge.
The Budget Session of Parliament has been extended, and a special three-day sitting of the House has been convened from April 16 to 18, during which amendments to the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, more commonly known as the Women Reservation Act, will be brought for its implementation in 2029.
However, Kharge has in a letter to prime minister said it would be “impossible” to have any useful discussion on the women’s quota law without details of delimitation and other aspects, and demanded that an all-party meeting be called on the matter after the current round of state polls gets over on April 29.
“Promises to India’s women cannot become politics of postponement. When it is time to deliver the Women’s Reservation Act, hesitation and questions are being raised. I respectfully differ,” Rijiju said on X, adding he has written to Kharge, placing the facts on record and reiterating the urgency of moving forward.
The Union minister said the Modi government turned the law into reality and now the necessary amendments linked to delimitation are crucial to ensure that the country’s women get rightful representation before 2029 and it is not pushed further into uncertainty.
“This is not about politics. This is about keeping our promise to the daughters of India. Let us rise above hesitation & move forward, together, for ‘Nari Shakti’,” Rijiju wrote to Kharge.
He said he has personally reached out, written and engaged with leaders across parties. “Dialogue has happened, and it continues, but at some point, intent must translate into action.” “Delaying implementation in the name of process is nothing but delaying justice to millions of women,” he said.
In his letter to Kharge, Rijiju said when the law was passed in 2023, it was the view of most parties and stakeholders that it should be implemented as soon as possible.
“Today, we are in 2026, and if we don’t act now, it is possible that women’s reservation may not be implemented in time for the 2029 elections. Should we allow a possible delay in implementation or make our best efforts to meet the expectations of the people to implement it as soon as possible? “That is why, in our humble view, this is the most appropriate and logical moment to move forward with the necessary amendments,” he said.
The parliamentary affairs disagreed with Kharge’s suggestion that the government has not engaged with the opposition.
“As early as 16 March 2026, I had written a letter seeking time for a detailed discussion. Further, I had a personal discussion with you and Shri Jai Ramesh, Chief Whip of the Congress Party in Rajya Sabha, on this issue during the latest Budget Session,” he said.
On March 26 itself, Rijiju said, he had written to Kharge and pointed out that any delay in starting the process of implementation of the law would hamper the goal of its timely operationalisation.
“In the true spirit of taking everyone along in this historic moment, we have been in continuous dialogue trying to build consensus with all sections of the House,” he said.
To place the facts on record, the minister said, multiple formal meetings have been held since March 19 with all major opposition parties and the partners in the NDA.
“We have held consultations with the Samajwadi Party, the DMK, and with the leaders of YSRCP, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM and BJD. Similar outreach was made to the TMC leadership in both the Houses, including Shri Derek O’Brien and Shri Saugata Roy,” he said.
Rijiju said over the last fortnight (March 23 to April 2), the government has also held detailed telephonic conversations with leaders of other parties outside the NDA including AAP, RJD, CPI(M), IUML, JMM, JKNC, CPI, BRS, CPI(ML)L, VCK, both Kerala Congress factions, RSP, ZPM, MNM and several Independents.
He said many of these leaders have already conveyed their support, while others have sought time to consult their respective party leadership and have promised to revert shortly.
“We remain fully open to sitting with you and your colleagues for any further discussion you may desire, since our objective is the same – earliest possible implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam,” he said.
On the issue of consulting the states, the minister said the Rajya Sabha is the House where states are represented and their diverse aspirations are discussed.
He said many of the parties that the government has held consultations with are part of the government in states and they have fully represented their views.
“The bill, when it is presented in the Rajya Sabha, will give a detailed opportunity to the members to voice the aspirations and views of the states as well,” he said.
Rijiju said the issue of women’s reservations has been under discussion for nearly three decades, “with all views expressed and various commitments made and all united on its core objective”.
He said any further delay would mean denying women their rightful place in the decision-making process of the country.
“In view of the above and the overwhelming consensus already emerging, I most sincerely request your valuable support in ensuring the smooth culmination of this landmark legislation that will empower crores of women across the country,” he said.
In September 2023, Parliament passed the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ which provides for the reservation of 33 per cent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies.
However, it would have come into effect only after the completion of the delimitation exercise on the basis of the 2027 Census. This meant the reservation would not have become enforceable before 2034.
To implement it from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, changes were needed in the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, for which the government is holding the special sittings to pass the amendments to the law. PTI ACB RT
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