Congress MPs Mallu Ravi, Imraan Masood, Ujjwal Raman Singh accuse Centre of misleading House (Img: Internet)
New Delhi: Congress leaders on Friday alleged that the Centre is misleading Parliament over the proposed Women’s Reservation Bill and raised objections to its linkage with the delimitation exercise. The party has demanded that an all-party meeting be convened before the legislation is put to vote.
Congress MP Mallu Ravi said the government was not being transparent in its approach and accused it of making “misleading statements” in the House. He reiterated that the Congress supports women’s reservation but opposes tying it to delimitation.
Women’s Reservation Act comes into force nationwide amid ongoing parliamentary debate
Several Congress MPs argued that linking the reservation bill with the delimitation process could delay its implementation. They urged the government to pass the bill independently to ensure timely reservation for women.
MP Ujjwal Raman Singh questioned the Centre’s intent, stating that if the government was serious about passing the bill, it would have engaged with opposition parties through broader consultations.
He also referred to remarks by Priyanka Gandhi, who suggested that the government could take full credit for the bill as long as it ensures 33 per cent reservation for women in the current Lok Sabha strength.
The debate also saw political tensions escalate over comments made by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya during discussions on delimitation. His remarks comparing the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to a historical partition drew criticism from leaders, particularly from Telangana.
Congress MPs indicated they would protest against the statements and seek a public apology. The issue added to the already heated atmosphere in the House during deliberations.
Congress MP Imran Masood called for a caste census before moving ahead with major electoral reforms. He stressed that changes such as increasing Lok Sabha seats and redrawing constituencies require detailed discussion and consensus.
Opposition leaders argued that the scale of the proposed reforms warrants broader consultation, rather than expedited passage in Parliament.
The debate comes as the Lok Sabha continues discussions on the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies.
Alongside it, the government has introduced the Delimitation Bill and amendments affecting Union Territories, proposing an increase in Lok Sabha seats to around 850. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has defended the move, assuring that concerns around representation will be addressed.
