New Delhi: Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday cautioned opposition parties against spreading rumours about constituency delimitation, saying it should not be used as a pretext to oppose the women’s reservation legislation.
His remarks came as Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the bill in Parliament to provide 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. Speaker Om Birla announced that the House would hold a 12-hour debate, with voting scheduled for 4 pm on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters, Rijiju appealed to all opposition parties to refrain from “misleading” people in the southern states by linking the bill to delimitation-related speculation. He also urged parties not to raise unrelated issues that could distort the intent of the proposed law.
Calling the day “historic,” Rijiju said the legislation would be remembered for enabling 33% representation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. He expressed confidence that all parties would support the long-pending measure and ensure it is not defeated.
