PM indulging in ‘anti-national’ acts of OBC ‘hissa chori’, ‘power grab’ through delimitation: Rahul Gandhi
In his video message, released a day before the Constitution Amendment Bill, which includes provisions regarding the implementation and limitation of women’s reservations, was tabled in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi emphasized that his party will not allow unfair treatment to the south, north-east, north-west and smaller states.
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Gandhi stated that if the government really intends to implement reservation for women, it should go ahead with the existing ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ (Women Empowerment Act).
“There is a massive fraud going on right now. The Prime Minister does not want this decision (on women’s reservation) to be taken on the basis of caste census or the upcoming census. The Prime Minister is depriving you (OBC) of your rightful share of participation. He insists on using the 2011 census data, which does not contain exact figures for backward classes, because that is exactly what he wants to deprive you (OBC) of your share.” said the opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Gandhi asked: “Census is ongoing; why not use OBC data to implement women’s reservation in Parliament?”
“Prime Minister Modi, along with RSS and BJP members, are stunned that the caste census data has come out. They have realized the real size of the population of the backward classes. They do not want you to get a share commensurate with your population size. This is not only against the backward classes but also constitutes an anti-national activity.”
Gandhi warned that there was “one more dangerous aspect” to Modi’s proposal, claiming: “If Modi’s wishes come true, then small states, southern states and north-eastern states will suffer significantly and their representation will diminish.”
He appealed: “Our position is that you (the Prime Minister) should base this study on the census planned for 2026, rather than the 2011 census for which there is no data on the OBC population. If you really want to implement the Women’s Protection Act, the provision is already there in the Constitution; go ahead and implement it. We will offer our full support.”
He affirmed that the opposition would not allow any action against the interests of the backward classes and small states.
“Modi-ji, I understand you want to send the message to the nation that you are pro-women. I know you are afraid of the Epstein files.” Gandhi added.
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He also accused Modi of wanting to increase the number of seats according to his own agenda.
In a video published on X, Gandhi stated: “The Congress party openly supports women’s reservation.
“Parliament passed the bill unanimously in 2023 and it is already part of our Constitution. What the government is now proposing has nothing to do with women’s reservation. This amendment is an attempt to seize power through delimitation and gerrymandering.
“We will not allow ‘Hissa Chori’ from OBC, Dalit and Adivasi communities by ignoring caste census data,” Gandhi said. “We will also not allow the South, North East, North West and smaller states to be treated unfairly,” he said.
The proposal involves increasing Lok Sabha seats from the current 543 to 850 to “operationalize” the women’s reservation law ahead of the 2029 parliamentary elections, following a delimitation study based on the last published census.
According to the draft Constitution amendment bill to be submitted to Parliament, the number of seats in state and Union Territory assemblies will also be increased to provide 33 per cent reservation for women.
On Wednesday, senior opposition leaders met at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence to discuss a common strategy on bills aimed at implementing and limiting the women’s quota law.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kharge said that the opposition parties agreed to vote collectively against the limitation provisions in the Constitutional amendment draft. He emphasized that women were not against the reservation issue, but opposed the introduction of the bill for “political purposes”.
