Kishan defends delimitation

Slams Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s ‘Misleading’ Claims

1. G Kishan Reddy said Women’s Reservation and Delimitation are constitutional processes aimed at empowering women and strengthening democracy.
2. He dismissed Revanth Reddy’s criticism, asserting no injustice to southern states and calling his arguments baseless.
3. The Centre, led by Narendra Modi, plans seat expansion while ensuring balanced representation and early implementation of the women’s quota.

metro india news  I hyderabad

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday outlined the Centre’s roadmap on Women’s Reservation and Delimitation while strongly countering remarks made by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the Union Minister stated that the proposed 33 percent reservation for women in legislatures is a long-pending reform aimed at empowering nearly half of India’s population. He noted that Parliament is scheduled to deliberate on the necessary constitutional amendments in the coming days, marking a significant step toward implementation. Emphasizing that both women’s reservation and delimitation are constitutionally mandated processes, he clarified that these are institutional reforms designed to strengthen democracy, not political decisions.

Highlighting the intent behind the move, Kishan Reddy said the initiative reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to women’s dignity, representation and inclusive growth. He recalled that the demand for women’s reservation has persisted for over five decades, and although a similar Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2010, it could not be implemented due to various constraints.

Responding to criticism from DMK and Congress, particularly Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and other Congressmen, Kishan Reddy dismissed their concerns over delimitation disadvantaging southern states. He asserted that the Centre has carefully designed the process to ensure no state suffers any injustice. According to him, seat expansion will be undertaken based on the existing structure, thereby maintaining equitable representation across regions.

The Minister strongly criticized Revanth’s remarks describing BJP leaders as “Bantrothulu" (subordinates) calling them meaningless and politically motivated. He countered that the Congress party historically undermined regional leaders, citing instances including the alleged humiliation of former leaders during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure. He also questioned Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, regarding their political choices and shifting constituencies.

Rejecting the Telangana Chief Minister’s proposed Hybrid model of seat allocation based on the pro rata method and economic indices, Kishan Reddy termed it impractical and unprecedented globally. He reiterated that constitutional principles primarily rely on population as the basis for delimitation.

Further, he accused the Congress of attempting to create unnecessary regional divides between North and South India and engaging in political rhetoric over sensitive national issues. He urged opposition parties to adopt a constructive approach and support the passage of the women’s reservation Bill.

Kishan Reddy maintained that legislative changes alone do not determine electoral outcomes, emphasizing that the people ultimately decide their representatives. He expressed confidence that the reforms would enhance democratic participation and ensure greater inclusivity in governance.