The central government is preparing to convene a special session of Parliament to pass two major bills. According to government sources, a three-day special session is expected between August 16th and 18th. The Delimitation Bill and the Women’s Reservation Bill will be passed during this session. However, the government’s path appears difficult due to the opposition’s tough stance.
Kiren Rijiju meets Rahul Gandhi
Amid the ongoing parliamentary deadlock, the government has intensified its efforts to build consensus. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju met with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, at his office in Parliament House on Wednesday. The meeting lasted about 50 minutes. Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present.
Sources say the government wants to take the opposition into confidence on the Delimitation Bill and the Women’s Reservation Bill. However, the Congress and other opposition parties are clear in their stance. They say they will take a final decision on the bills only after their concerns are addressed.
Initiative amid Monsoon Session uproar
This meeting comes at a time when the Monsoon Session is constantly marred by uproar. The opposition is demanding answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament on two issues.
On Wednesday morning, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and several opposition MPs marched on foot from the Gandhi statue at Prerna Sthal to the Makar Dwar of Parliament. During this, they raised slogans against the police action against students. Against this backdrop, the government wants to move forward with stalled bills through a special session.
What is the Delimitation and Women’s Reservation Bill?
Delimitation Bill: This bill will redraw the boundaries of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats based on the latest population data in the country. South Indian states, in particular, fear that their seats may be reduced due to the re-allocation of seats. This is why the opposition is raising questions about it.
Women’s Reservation Bill: This bill provides for reserving 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. This means that one in every three seats will be reserved for women candidates. This bill has been pending in Parliament for a long time.
Regarding this entire matter, the government believes that it is essential to pass both bills quickly to improve the electoral process and increase women’s participation. All eyes are now on the potential special session beginning on August 16th. It remains to be seen whether the government can persuade the opposition to pass these two important bills.