New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to do “hissa chori” (stealing someone’s rights) of the OBCs in the garb of amendments to the women’s reservation law as well as attempt a “power grab” through delimitation, both of which, he claimed, were “anti-national” activities. In a video message released a day before the Constitutional Amendment Bill with provisions on women’s reservation implementation and delimitation was tabled in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi emphasised that his party would not permit southern, northeastern, northwestern, and smaller states to be treated unfairly. Gandhi stated that if the government truly intends to implement women’s reservation, it should proceed with the existing ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ (Women’s Empowerment Act). “A massive act of dishonesty is currently being perpetrated. The prime minister does not want this decision (regarding women’s reservation) to be taken based on a caste census or the upcoming census. The prime minister is snatching away your (OBC) rightful share of participation. He insists on using the 2011 census data, which lacks specific figures regarding the backward classes, precisely because he intends to deprive you (OBC) of your share,” the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said. Gandhi questioned, “The Census is ongoing; why can’t you use the OBC data to implement women’s reservation in Parliament?” He further claimed, “Prime Minister Modi, along with RSS and BJP members, is rattled because data regarding the caste census is emerging. They have realised the actual size of the backward classes’ population. They do not want you to receive a share proportional to your population size. This is not only against backward classes but constitutes an anti-national activity.” He emphasised that backward classes make up 50 per cent of the population, pointing out, “The prime minister wants to take away their participation.” Gandhi warned of “one more dangerous aspect” in Modi’s proposal, alleging that, “If what Modi wants happens, then small states, southern states, and northeastern states will suffer significantly, and their representation will decline.” He urged, “Our position is that you (the Prime Minister) should base this exercise on the census scheduled for 2026 rather than the 2011 census, which lacks data on the OBC population. If you genuinely wish to implement the Women’s Reservation Act, you already have the provision in the Constitution; go ahead and implement it. We will offer our full support.” He affirmed that the opposition would not allow any actions that go against the interests of backward classes and the smaller states. “Modi-ji, I understand that you wish to convey a message to the nation that you are pro-women. I know that you are afraid of the Epstein files.” Gandhi added. He further accused Modi of wanting to increase the number of seats according to his own agenda.
In a video posted on X, Gandhi stated, “The Congress party unequivocally supports women’s reservation.
“Parliament unanimously passed the bill in 2023, and it is already part of our Constitution. What the government is proposing now has nothing to do with women’s reservation. This amendment is an attempted power grab using delimitation and gerrymandering. “We will not allow ‘Hissa Chori’ from OBC, Dalit and Adivasi communities by ignoring the caste census data. We will also not allow Southern, North Eastern, North Western and smaller states to be treated unfairly,” Gandhi said.
The proposal includes increasing Lok Sabha seats from the current 543 to up to 850 to “operationalise” the women’s reservation law ahead of the 2029 parliamentary elections, following a delimitation exercise based on the last published census. According to the draft of the Constitution amendment bill to be introduced in Parliament, seats in state and Union Territory assemblies would also be increased to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women. On Wednesday, top opposition leaders convened at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss a joint strategy regarding the bills aimed at implementing the women’s quota law and delimitation. After the meeting, Kharge told reporters that opposition parties had agreed to vote collectively against the delimitation provisions in the Constitution amendment bill. He stressed that they were not against the women’s reservation issue but opposed the “politically motivated” manner in which the bill was being presented. PTI ASK ASK MPL MPL
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