Congress urges women's reservation bill, no delimitation

A political debate over the implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill has intensified, with Congress leaders challenging the government to enact the 2023 law without linking it to a separate delimitation process. The exchange began after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi emphasized the need for women's expression in national development, prompting a response from Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.

On August 8, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar affirmed his party's commitment to women's empowerment, stating the Congress would give more strength to women and that Rijiju need not worry about the party's position. This followed an online exchange between Rijiju and Rahul Gandhi over the preceding days.

The dispute centers on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, a landmark law passed unanimously by Parliament in 2023 that reserves 33 percent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. While the law was enacted, its implementation has been stalled. The opposition, including the Congress party, supports the reservation but opposes the government's effort to link its activation to a delimitation exercise aimed at increasing the number of...