Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing the Lok Sabha, challenged the Opposition by offering to pause proceedings for an hour to return with an amendment ensuring a 50% increase in seats for states.
Shah emphasised that the Women’s Reservation Bill must be passed without delay, accusing the INDIA bloc of resisting through conditional objections. Shah argued that opposing delimitation equates to denying greater representation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, assuring that every vote would carry equal weight.
Highlighting participation, he noted that 133 members spoke on the Bill, including 56 women—a record in parliamentary debate. He clarified that seat distribution would not reduce representation based on the 2011 census, citing Tamil Nadu as an example where women would gain 13 reserved seats while 26 remain unreserved.
Recalling history, Shah pointed out that seats were last increased in 1972 under Indira Gandhi, before delimitation was frozen during the Emergency. He accused Congress of blocking the process then and now. Rejecting regional divides, Shah affirmed equal rights for all states and Union Territories. He also confirmed that the Modi Cabinet has approved a caste census alongside the 2026 Census to ensure clarity for citizens.
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