Debate Over Women's Reservation: Congress Demands Immediate Implementation

The Congress in Goa on Tuesday urged the Modi government to swiftly implement the women's reservation legislation approved in 2023, applying a 33 percent quota to the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats. Anjali Nimbalkar, AICC secretary, accused the BJP of leveraging the women's quota as a political tool for the 2029 elections through a proposed delimitation exercise.

Addressing the media, Nimbalkar remarked that while Congress supports women's reservation, it opposes increasing Parliament seats via delimitation to the BJP's advantage. She appealed for the 2023 women's reservation Bill to be enacted, assuring Congress's backing if brought up in the monsoon session.

Nimbalkar further demanded a caste census to facilitate the reservation. She highlighted completed censuses in Karnataka, Telangana, and Bihar, suggesting the central government could efficiently conduct one. Additionally, she accused the BJP of feigning pro-women stances amid persistent gender-based violence in regions like Manipur.

(With inputs from agencies.)