New Delhi [India], April 15 (ANI): Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday criticized the Centre’s proposed constitutional amendment to increase Lok Sabha seats to 850 and allow delimitation based on the pre-2026 Census, calling it an “anti-national” move.
In a post on X, Gandhi said the Congress supports women’s reservation but insisted that delimitation should be carried out only after the 2026 Census, with caste census data also taken into account.
“What the government is proposing now has nothing to do with women’s reservation. This amendment is an attempted power grab using delimitation and gerrymandering. We will not allow ‘Hissa Chori’ from OBC, Dalit and Adivasi communities by ignoring caste census data,” he said.
He added that the party would oppose any move that treats southern, northeastern, northwestern, and smaller states unfairly.
“We will also not allow southern, northeastern, northwestern, and smaller states to be treated unfairly,” Gandhi said.
Targeting the government, he alleged that the BJP is opposed to a caste census and does not want backward communities to receive fair representation.
“PM Modi and the RSS are afraid of the caste census,” he said.
Gandhi further stated that if the government is serious about women’s reservation, it should implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, which has already been passed by Parliament.
“This is an anti-national activity. PM Modi is misleading people and trying to take away the share of backward communities. We will not allow delimitation based on his whims,” he said.
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, which provides for 33 percent reservation for women in legislatures, is linked to the delimitation process in the Lok Sabha.
The government is considering implementing women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 general elections by introducing amendments to the 2023 Act and a constitutional amendment to delink delimitation from the 2027 Census.
According to sources, the proposal includes increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats to 850, with 815 allocated to states and 35 to Union Territories. The Lok Sabha currently has 543 seats. (ANI)
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