New Delhi, Apr 17 (TNT): Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp political attack on the Constitution Amendment Bill on women’s reservation and delimitation, terming its defeat a “victory for the Constitution.”
In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi said, “The amendment bill has fallen,” alleging that the government used an “unconstitutional trick in the name of women” to weaken constitutional safeguards.
“India has seen it, INDIA has stopped it. Hail the Constitution,” he said.
He further claimed that the Bill was not a genuine women’s reservation measure, describing it as “anti-OBC, anti-SC/ST and anti-national against the South, North-East, North-West and small states.”
He said the opposition would not allow rights to be taken away or the country to be divided.
Earlier, speaking in the House, Gandhi accused the government of attempting to “gerrymander” constituencies ahead of the 2029 elections.
He alleged that the proposed legislation would remove constitutional safeguards on delimitation and vest excessive powers in a commission appointed by the government.
The Lok Sabha on Friday defeated the Constitution Amendment Bill aimed at operationalising women’s reservation and increasing the strength of the House.
The Bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority, with 298 members voting in favour and 230 against out of 528 members present and voting, falling short of the 352 votes needed for passage.
The proposed legislation sought to increase Lok Sabha seats to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 as part of a delimitation exercise linked to the implementation of the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023.
TNT TS
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