Sachin Sawant urges NCP (SP) MPs to press PM Modi on immediate women’s reservation

Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant. File Pic

Maharashtra Congress Spokesperson Sachin Sawant on Sunday urged NCP (SP) MPs to firmly convey to Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi the Opposition INDIA bloc's position that the 2023 women's reservation law should be implemented immediately and not be linked to delimitation.

Sawant's remarks came after it was announced that MPs of the Opposition NCP (SP) will meet PM Modi on Monday to raise issues concerning Maharashtra, reported PTI.

Government seeks support for women's quota, delimitation bills

The government is making a fresh attempt to pass a Constitution Amendment Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures from 2029 and redraw Lok Sabha constituencies, increasing their number to 816, during the ongoing Monsoon Session.

The government has been reaching out to Opposition leaders and NDA allies to build support for the proposed legislation. The Constitution Amendment Bill was defeated in the previous session.

Sawant calls for INDIA bloc unity

"The INDIA alliance's unequivocal position is that the Women's Reservation Bill, passed in 2023, must be implemented immediately and should not be linked to delimitation," Sawant said in a post on X.

He urged NCP (SP) MPs to make the Opposition's position clear during their meeting with the prime minister and stressed the importance of maintaining unity among INDIA bloc parties on the issue.

"It is important that the unity of the INDIA alliance and its opposition to the Modi government on this issue is made unequivocally clear," he said.

Congress, BJP spar over women's quota and delimitation

The Congress and BJP exchanged criticism on Saturday over the proposed women's reservation and delimitation bills.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that no country can be successful if its women do not have a voice in decision-making.

Responding to Gandhi's remarks, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju described them as a "visible change of heart" and expressed hope that the Congress would support the proposed legislation "unconditionally".

(With PTI inputs)