Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today replied in the Lok Sabha to the discussion on the Delimitation Bill, 2026; the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that 130 members participated in the discussion, including 56 women members. He said that during the debate, the opposition alliance clearly opposed the Women’s Reservation Bill. He said that this opposition is not about the methods of implementation, but only to women’s reservation. He said that the objective is to implement the principle of “one person, one vote, one value,” which was laid down by the Constituent Assembly as the foundation of our democracy

Shri Amit Shah said that the Constitution provides for delimitation from time to time, and it is through this process that the number of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes increases. He stated that those opposing delimitation are, in effect, opposing the increase in seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He said that the Constitution has entrusted the government with the responsibility of creating a balanced, inclusive, and practical democratic framework, and at present, this responsibility rests with the government led by Shri Narendra Modi. Shri Shah said that maintaining federal balance, ensuring representation in the Lok Sabha in proportion to population, and balancing the powers of the states are also key objectives of delimitation. He further said that delimitation also takes into account new geographical realities, administrative changes, urbanization, enhanced connectivity through roads and railways, and the creation of new districts. Shri Shah noted that all these principles are enshrined in Articles 81, 82, and 170 of the Constitution, and to implement them, the government under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi has brought this constitutional amendment. He said that these Bills have been introduced to fulfill the responsibility of promoting women’s empowerment, ensuring equal representation, and building a balanced federal structure.

Union Home Minister said that the Nari Shakti Vandan Act stipulates that reservation for women will be ensured in the delimitation exercise to be carried out after the Census conducted post-2026. He stated that in 1971, the government of the opposition party had frozen this process, and that is why it had to be mentioned. He added that the number of seats has remained frozen since 1971, and today there are 127 constituencies with more than 2 million voters each. In these constituencies, the principle of “one person, one vote, one value” is being completely violated.

Shri Amit Shah said that in 1972, the then Prime Minister first brought a Delimitation Bill, increasing the number of seats from 525 to 545, and then froze them. He stated that in 1976, during the Emergency, the 42^nd Amendment was brought which halted delimitation in order to retain power. At that time too, the principal opposition party had deprived the people of the country of delimitation, and even today, it is the same party that is depriving the nation of it. He said that in 2001, the 84^th Amendment was enacted, which froze the number of seats until 2026. From 1976 to 2026—a period of 50 years—the people of the country did not receive representation in proportion to the population. Shri Shah noted that this limit ends in 2026, but even if delimitation is undertaken then, the process cannot be completed before 2029, as the Delimitation Commission is required to conduct public hearings in every constituency.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that in 1976, the country’s population was 54 crore 79 lakhs, whereas today it is 140 crore. He stated that it is the government’s responsibility that as the number of members in the House increases, the number of working days of the House should also be increased. He said that the government is increasing the number of seats in every state by 50 percent so that no state’s pro rata share is affected. He noted that some members had questioned why the Census was not conducted on time. Shri Shah explained that the Census was scheduled for 2021, but the country was facing the biggest pandemic of the century—COVID-19—at that time, making it impossible to conduct. He added that even after the pandemic subsided, it took considerable time for the country to recover. Shri Shah further said that when the Census process began in 2024, some parties raised a legitimate demand for a caste-based Census. After discussions with all stakeholders, it was decided that a caste Census would be conducted. He stated that the ongoing Census will include caste enumeration. He added that during the tenure of the principal opposition party, previous Census did not include caste enumeration, nor was religion ever asked. Shri Shah said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has decided that the 2026 Census will be conducted with caste enumeration.

Shri Amit Shah said that ever since this Bill was introduced, the opposition has started spreading misconceptions. He stated that the first misconception was that the government had brought this constitutional amendment to delay the caste Census. He said that another misconception being spread is that injustice would be done to the southern states. Shri Shah asserted that southern states have as much right over this House as the northern states. He added that Lakshadweep has the same right over this House as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Bihar. Union Home Minister said that the opposition should not make attempt to divide the country through a North-South narrative, but should rise above such divisions. He stated that those who have taken an oath on the Constitution are now trying to create a divide between North and South, which will not be allowed. Shri Shah emphasized that every member who takes oath in Parliament pledges to uphold the unity and integrity of India and to work for the welfare of the entire nation. He added that no member takes an oath in the name of their constituency, state, religion, or caste. Union Home Minister said that no one can attain power by dividing the country.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that a narrative is being spread regarding the Delimitation Commission and constitutional reforms that southern states would suffer in terms of representation, which is not true. He stated that at present, the total number of Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala is 129, which constitutes 23.76 percent of the total 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country. He said that if these seats are increased by 50 percent and allocated among the five states, the number would rise from 129 to 195. He further said that after delimitation, when the total number of Lok Sabha seats in the country increases to 816, the share of seats allocated to the southern states would be 23.87 percent. He emphasized that the current share of these five southern states in the total Lok Sabha seats is 23.76 percent, which would slightly increase to 23.87 percent after delimitation.

Union Home Minister said that some members in the House had spread another misconception that Muslim women should also be given reservation. He stated that the policy of the Constitution of India, the government, and his party is clear that the Constitution does not permit reservation on the basis of religion. Reservation is granted by birth and cannot be acquired in any other way. Shri Shah said that there is no provision anywhere in the Constitution for granting reservation on the basis of religion. He added that leaders of the opposition alliance, due to appeasement politics, are raising demands for Muslim reservation in the country while also speaking about the Constitution. He stated that reservation on the basis of religion will neither be given nor will it ever be allowed to be given.

Shri Amit Shah said that if there is any party that has been the biggest opponent of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in this country, it is the principal opposition party. He stated that in 1957, the recommendations of the Kaka Kalelkar Commission, which had suggested reservation for OBCs, were received, but the then government led by the opposition party shelved the report. He said that when the Mandal Commission report was submitted, the opposition party’s government also put it in cold storage. It was only when V. P. Singh’s government came to power in 1990 that the Mandal Commission recommendations were implemented. He added that at that time, the senior-most leader of the opposition party delivered the longest speech of his life opposing the Mandal Commission. Shri Shah further said that the opposition party had also opposed caste-based Census in both 1951 and 1971.

Shri Amit Shah said that for the opposition, winning elections is paramount, but for the government, the nation and its people come first. He stated that ensuring representation and participation of the people of the nation is of utmost importance. He emphasized that accountability, transparency, equal opportunity, and the protection of justice are essential for implementing the Constitution. He said, the people of the entire country are aware of the opposition’s superficial concern, and from today, the women of the country will also know that their rights have been taken away by the opposition party.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that in 1992, the government led by P. V. Narasimha Rao brought the 72^ndand 73^rdConstitutional Amendments and did the commendable work of providing 33 percent reservation for women in Panchayats.He said that thereafter, in 1996, Shri H. D. Deve Gowda became Prime Minister and the 81^stConstitutional Amendment Bill was introduced in September 1996, which was opposed by some parties. Subsequently, the Geeta Mukherjee Committee was constituted to examine the Bill. By the time the Committee submitted its report, the 11^thLok Sabha had been dissolved and the Bill lapsed.He further said that in 1998, the 84^thConstitutional Amendment Bill was brought, but it was again opposed by the same parties, and the situation did not even allow the Bill to be introduced in the House; it lapsed with the dissolution of the 12^thLok Sabha. Shri Shah added that from 1999 to 2003, the 85th Constitutional Amendment Bill was introduced, but once again it faced opposition from the same parties and lapsed.

He said that from 2008 to 2014, Manmohan Singh brought the 108^thConstitutional Amendment Bill and introduced it in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, but it never reached the Lok Sabha. Shri Shah stated that his party did not oppose it; rather, the parties supporting the government opposed it. This clearly indicates that, at the behest of the government, the parties that were part of the ruling coalition did not allow the Bill to be introduced in the Lok Sabha.

Shri Amit Shah said that in 2023, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi deliberately brought the Women’s Reservation Bill, knowing that elections were due in 2024. He stated that regardless of any political posturing, the opposition would not be able to oppose it. When the new Parliament building was inaugurated, the Nari Shakti Vandan Act was the first Bill to be passed unanimously, and it was also passed in the Rajya Sabha.He said that when it came to implementing it, the opposition has once again started opposing it, which the women of the country will never forget. He added that when opposition parties go into elections, they will have to face the anger of women.

Union Home Minister said that some people ask what the need for change is. He stated that 22 women were elected to the first Lok Sabha; 19 in the sixth; 44 in the eighth; 51 in the fourteenth; a record 78 in the seventeenth; and 75 women members have been elected to the eighteenth Lok Sabha.He said that these figures reflect the growing enthusiasm of women in the country to participate in politics.

Shri Amit Shah said that the government has followed the principle of “women-led development” in both letter and spirit while pursuing women’s reservation. He stated that in the Prime Minister’s first Council of Ministers, there were 10 women. He noted that Sushma Swaraj became the first woman Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Uma Bharti of Madhya Pradesh, and Smt. Vasundhara Raje of Rajasthan, while Smt. Anandiben Patel became the first woman Chief Minister of Gujarat.He said that in 70 years, the principal opposition party never gave these states a woman Chief minister. He added that the government made Smt. Droupadi Murmu the first tribal woman President of the country. Shri Shah said that the government has brought forward a Bill that had been rejected for three decades. However, it is unfortunate that the same opposition, which had earlier prevented the Bill from being passed, is once again opposing it with reservations and conditions. The Home Minister said that around 1.4 million women have so far served as elected representatives in Panchayats across the country. He added that no matter what opposition they may face, they will continue to strive to empower women and ensure their participation in legislative institutions.

Union Home Minister said that it is not just the Women’s Reservation Bill that is being opposed. He stated that when Article 370 was abrogated, the opposition opposed it. When the Ram Temple was built, it was opposed. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was opposed. The abolition of triple talaq was opposed. The introduction of GST was opposed. The Ayushman Bharat scheme was opposed. The construction of the new Parliament building was opposed. The creation of the Ministries of Fisheries and Ministry of Cooperation was opposed. The establishment of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was opposed. The efforts to eliminate Naxalism were opposed. Strong action against terrorism was opposed. Surgical strikes were opposed. Air strikes were opposed. Operation Sindoor was opposed.He said that whatever Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi does, the opposition opposes it. He added that today, when reservation for the women of the country is being introduced, it should not have been opposed, but the opposition is opposing this as well.

Union Home Minister said that the opposition is opposing this because it is being brought by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He added that if women’s reservation is implemented, it would enhance the Prime Minister’s popularity among women, and the opposition believes that women voters already tend to support him more—hence their reluctance to support the reservation. He further said that in 2023, all parties and members of the House had promised 33 percent reservation for women, but today the opposition is backing away from it. He remarked that this is not the first time, citing instances where the opposition had stepped back on issues such as the Shah Bano case and triple talaq, and similarly, every time women’s reservation has been proposed, the opposition has retreated.

Shri Amit Shah said that their leader had urged all members to vote according to their conscience. However, he added that here even the “soul” seems absent—so where would the “inner voice” come from? He said that this reflects ruthless politics. Shri Shah further stated that wherever opposition leaders go during elections, they will have to face the anger of the women of the country.

****

RK/RR/PR/PS