131st Constitutional Amendment Bill Fails: The 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill failed in the Lok Sabha due to not getting two-thirds majority. There was a proposal to increase seats from 543 to 850. A heated politics has erupted between the government and the opposition regarding women’s reservation.
The 131st Constitution Amendment Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha could not be passed and after this a big conflict has started in the politics of the country. This is not just the failure of a bill, but a picture of a deep political fight regarding women’s reservation, delimitation and electoral structure has emerged. The government was linking this bill with women empowerment, while the opposition was calling it an attempt to change the democratic structure.
What was special in this bill
In this amendment bill, it was proposed to increase the existing 543 seats of Parliament to 850. Besides, the issue of linking it with delimitation and census was also included. This point became the cause of most controversy. The opposition said that this is not a direct women’s reservation bill, but an attempt to change the electoral mathematics.
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Why did the bill fall?
Two-thirds majority was required to pass the bill, but the government could not gather this figure. The result was that the bill was defeated by 54 votes. After this defeat, the round of allegations and counter-allegations has intensified between the ruling party and the opposition.
Amit Shah’s attack on the opposition
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the opposition after the bill was passed. He said this was an “insult to women power” and its impact would be visible in the coming elections. He clearly said that the opposition is standing in the way of giving 33% reservation to women and the women of the country are watching this.
Rahul Gandhi said ‘attack on the Constitution’
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi described the bill as an “attack on the Constitution”. He said that this was not an issue of women’s reservation, but an attempt to change the electoral structure through delimitation and census. According to him, the opposition together has stopped this effort.
Priyanka Gandhi and opposition’s argument
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that if the government had brought a direct women’s reservation bill without conditions, it could have been easily passed. He alleged that the government deliberately made it complicated by linking it to delimitation and census, making it difficult to pass. Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi also said that “not women’s reservation, but the delimitation bill has been defeated.”
Akhilesh Yadav’s statement
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that his party is in full support of women’s reservation. But he alleged that the government wanted to add provisions to it that could limit women’s rights. The opposition drew its “Lakshman Rekha” against this.
Has women’s reservation ended?
Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Hasan clarified that the Nari Shakti Vandan Act of 2023 is still in force and this amendment was related to it. He said that if the government’s intention is clear then 33% reservation should be implemented on the existing 543 seats only.
ruling party’s counterattack
Attacking the opposition, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that the public and women power are watching everything and the opposition will have to pay the price in the coming times. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the opposition opposes every good work and stands against the representation of women. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also hit out at the Congress, saying the party’s “tricks, character and face” have been exposed on the issue.
Now the biggest question is whether the government will re-introduce this bill in a new form or try to implement women’s reservation in a different way. At present it is clear that politics is going to become more intense on an important issue like women’s reservation, and its effect can also be seen in the coming elections.
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