Now Reading: Rahul Gandhi challenges Rijiju to implement women’s reservation bill without delimitation
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Rahul Gandhi challenges Rijiju to implement women’s reservation bill without delimitation
Rahul Gandhi challenges Rijiju to implement women’s reservation bill without delimitation
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju clashed on Saturday over the Women's Reservation Bill. Rahul challenged Rijiju to implement the 2023 law without linking it…
The Story in Brief
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju clashed on Saturday over the Women's Reservation Bill. Rahul challenged Rijiju to implement the 2023 law without linking it to the delimitation exercise for Lok Sabha seats. Rijiju had earlier asked the Congress to support the bill unconditionally, after Rahul posted a video calling for women's freedom of expression. Rahul countered that the bill was passed unanimously in Parliament three years ago and has not been enforced. The Federal reports that the process stalled after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, needed to effect the reservation and delimitation, was defeated in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026, failing to get the required two-thirds majority.
The Indian Opinion
Both sides are using the women's reservation bill as a political cudgel. The government accuses the Congress of not supporting it unconditionally, while the Congress points out that the bill was passed in 2023 but not implemented. The real hurdle is the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which was defeated in April 2026 for want of a two-thirds majority. Instead of trading barbs, the ruling coalition and the Opposition must settle one question: will they bring a fresh amendment bill that decouples reservation from delimitation, or will the women's quota remain a talking point for another election?
Sources (3): thefederal.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
