New Delhi, August 8: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged the Centre to implement the 2023 women’s reservation law without linking it to delimitation.
Gandhi made the remarks on Saturday while responding to Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. He said Parliament passed the law unanimously in 2023 with Congress support.
“Implement the 2023 law. Without any conditions,” Gandhi said in a post on X.
रिजिजू जी, संसदीय कार्य मंत्री होने के नाते आपसे बेहतर यह कौन जानता होगा – महिला आरक्षण विधेयक 2023 में ही सर्वसम्मति से पारित हो चुका है, कांग्रेस के पूर्ण समर्थन के साथ।
सवाल यह है कि तीन साल बाद भी वह लागू क्यों नहीं हुआ और अब आप उसे परिसीमन से बेवजह क्यों जोड़ना चाहते हैं?… https://t.co/1HeBna8v8L
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 8, 2026
The exchange followed a statement by Rijiju on Gandhi’s recent remarks about women’s empowerment. Rijiju said Congress should now support the Women’s Reservation Bill unconditionally.
Gandhi questioned why the law had not taken effect three years after Parliament passed it. He also criticised what he described as an unnecessary link between the legislation and delimitation.
Women’s quota law remains tied to delimitation
The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, created a 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
However, the reservation takes effect after a delimitation exercise conducted following publication of the relevant census figures. This provision has remained central to the political debate over when the quota will begin.
Rijiju responded to Gandhi’s remarks by calling them a positive indication of a change in Congress’s approach to women’s political representation.
The minister said he hoped Congress would support the legislation without conditions.
The political exchange also followed Gandhi’s comments on the broader role of women in society. He said women need greater freedom to express themselves and participate in public life.
Gandhi also argued that women’s empowerment should extend beyond business and politics. He said women should have greater space within families, communities and public institutions.
The debate comes as political parties continue to discuss the implementation of the 2023 constitutional amendment.
The legislation has created a framework for greater representation of women in elected bodies. However, its implementation remains linked to the constitutional process involving census and delimitation.
Both leaders have therefore placed women’s political representation at the centre of their latest exchange. Further political discussions are expected as Parliament considers issues linked to electoral representation.
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