‘Don’t spread rumours…’: BJP fires at opposition over delimitation bill amid women’s quota push

A sharp political divide has emerged over the Women’s Reservation Bill as Union Minister Kiren Rijiju hailed it as a “historic” step, while Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav raised concerns over its implementation. Rijiju said the legislation, which proposes 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, would be remembered as a landmark decision by Parliament. He expressed confidence that all political parties would support the long-pending reform and urged the opposition not to spread “rumours” regarding delimitation or mislead people, especially in South India. He emphasized that the bill aims to strengthen women’s representation and deepen democratic participation. On the other hand, Akhilesh Yadav criticized the manner in which the bill is being introduced, calling it a “hidden plan.” While clarifying that his party is not against women’s reservation, he argued that the current proposal does not adequately address representation for Dalits, Muslims, and backward classes. He questioned how 33% reservation can be effectively implemented without clarity on population data and fair representation.