Politics
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Congress questions Red Fort pitch on women's reservation
The Hindu··17 Aug
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day appeal on women's reservation was a dishonest pitch. He said Parliament passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in September 2023, yet it did not apply to the 2024 polls. Ramesh said the law was notified on 16 April 2026. Congress wants the quota from 2029 within 543 seats.
Prism
What It Means For You
- If you track women's seats in Parliament, the 2023 law is notified but still tied to a future delimitation, and the April 2026 expansion bill did not pass.
- Voters looking at 2029 can see Congress asking for the quota inside the current 543 Lok Sabha seats, while the Prime Minister asked all parties to implement 33 percent.
- Anyone who watched the Red Fort speech can match Modi's appeal with Jairam Ramesh's note that the Adhiniyam was notified on 16 April 2026.
What's Happening
- On 15 August 2026 the Prime Minister urged parties to honour 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
- Jairam Ramesh said the 2023 law was not in force for the 2024 elections and was notified late on 16 April 2026.
- Congress restated its position that the quota should apply from 2029 without expanding the House beyond 543 seats.
Why The April Amendment Fell Short
- The Constitution 131st Amendment Bill needed a two-thirds majority; 352 of 528 votes cast would have been required, and 298 were recorded in favour.
- The 2023 Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam still stands; the defeated bill was a separate attempt to advance the quota in an expanded House.
- Modi said women already lead in panchayats and municipalities and that parties could claim credit if they helped implement the reservation.
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