TNNNew Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta criticised the Opposition on Sunday for defeating the Constitution amendment brought by central BJP govt to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023.The act promises 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. In a special session from April 16-18, the BJP-led govt tabled three amendment bills to the women’s reservation act that were tied to delimitation and the national census. This move was defeated as the treasury side could not get a two-thirds majority, which is required to pass a Constitution amendment.On Sunday, Gupta put the onus of the defeat on the Opposition parties, saying that their vote against the amendment bills had exposed their “anti-woman” nature. During a press conference at the Delhi BJP office, she took a dig at Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Those who raised the slogan of “Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon” have deserted the women by defeating the bill, she said. “They claim it to be a victory of democracy, while women and their self-respect were defeated,” the chief minister said.The Opposition parties were bent on ensuring that the bill did not pass in the Lok Sabha and raised various issues like delimitation and interests of the southern states to justify their stand, she said. One of their demands was that the women’s quota should be implemented within the current strength of the Lok Sabha, which is 543, she said. “Do they have a list of 180 male MPs who are prepared to give up their seats for women?” she asked.Congress leaders countered this by saying that they had defeated the delimitation bill, not voted against women’s reservation. Delhi Congress president Devendra Yadav said: “The women’s bill was not defeated in Parliament. Rather, the Opposition defeated the delimitation bill, which BJP sought to impose on the country.”“If BJP govt is sincere, they should enact a legislation and immediately provide reservation for women within the existing 543 seats,” Congress functionary Jairam Ramesh said.Congress functionary Alka Lamba said, “Congress has exposed BJP’s conspiracy to pass the delimitation bill under the guise of the women’s reservation bill.”BJP govt must implement 33% reservation for women in the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats, said Congress functionary Deepender Hooda.The Constitution amendment bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats of the Lok Sabha was defeated in the Lower House on Friday. While 298 members voted in support of the bill, 230 MPs voted against it.Out of the 528 members who voted, the bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority. The Opposition parties, including the Congress, voted against the bill.Out of the 528 members who voted, the bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority. The opposition parties, including the Congress, voted against the bill.
