Govt wants to ‘bulldoze’ delimitation in name of women’s reservation: Cong

NEW DELHI, April 16: The Congress on Thursday alleged that the government wants to “bulldoze” delimitation in the name of women’s reservation, and asserted that if it is really committed to implementing the women’s quota law it should do so immediately on the basis of the current strength of Lok Sabha.
Initiating the discussion on the three bills moved to amend the women’s quota law and set up a delimitation commission, Gogoi said the bills are “anti-women, anti-caste census, anti-Constitution and anti-federal structure of the country”.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to tweak the women’s quota law was introduced in Lok Sabha on Thursday after a division of votes.
In his remarks in the Lower House, Gogoi accused the government of attempting to take political advantage through delimitation and gerrymandering.“What they did through delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir and in Assam, the want to do in the whole country in the name of women’s reservation,” the Congress’ deputy leader in the House said, adding the government’s actions were “shameful”.He pointed out that the government’s bill states that amendments were needed as delimitation would take time.
“What that means is that you are not in favour of women’s reservation in reality and are creating obstacles repeatedly,” Gogoi said.
He accused the BJP of indulging in “politics of symbolism” and said these three bills show that they are not aimed at women’s reservation but to get delimitation done through the “backdoor”.Gogoi alleged that the government is bulldozing delimitation in the name of women’s reservation. The Congress leader alleged that the BJP in the past had used delimitation as a weapon to further its political ambitions.“Our party is in favour of women’s reservation but you must make it simple. It should be implemented on the current strength of the House — 543 — and must not be linked to delimitation,” Gogoi asserted.He said the other apprehension is that the government is not in favour of caste census and does not want to implement it. (PTI)