Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising concerns over the Centre’s handling of discussions on delimitation linked to the women’s reservation law and urging a broader political discussion after the ongoing assembly elections conclude.In his letter, Kharge reiterated the Opposition’s demand for convening an all-party meeting to deliberate on the issue after April 29. His remarks come in response to the government’s decision to call a special sitting of Parliament from April 16 to 18 to discuss amendments related to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.“I have just received your letter on the special session of Parliament for a discussion on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam from the 16th of April… This special sitting has been called without taking us into confidence and your government is seeking our cooperation again without revealing any details on the delimitation going to be done,” Kharge wrote.He added, “You will appreciate that without details of the delimitation and other aspects, it would be impossible to have any useful discussion on this historic law.”The Congress chief also questioned the government’s claim of prior consultations with political parties. “You mention in your letter that your government has engaged in dialogue with political parties regarding this. However, I am pained to point out that this goes against the truth since all the Opposition parties have been urging the Government to call an All-Party meeting after the current round of elections is over on April 29th 2026 to discuss the Constitution amendments being contemplated,” he said.Kharge further criticised the timing of the special session, noting that it coincides with ongoing state elections. “The calling of a special sitting during the ongoing state elections only reinforces our belief that your government is hurrying the implementation of the bill to gain political mileage rather than truly empower women,” he wrote.He concluded by reiterating the Opposition’s position, saying that if the government is serious about strengthening democracy and “moving forward together, taking everyone along,” it should convene an all-party meeting after April 29 to discuss the delimitation process being linked to the amendments under the women’s reservation law.
