New Delhi:BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj on Friday strongly defended the government’s approach to linking delimitation with the implementation of women’s reservation, rejecting Opposition claims that it is a political move to gain power. Speaking at Times Now Conclave 'Unlocking Nari Shakti' in conversation with group Editor-in-Chief Navika Kumar, the Lok Sabha MP said delimitation is a constitutional process and should not be portrayed as a conspiracy. She said that the government’s focus is to ensure meaningful representation for women rather than symbolic measures.

Swaraj dismissed allegations that the exercise is politically motivated, saying delimitation is rooted in constitutional provisions. “Delimitation is not a conspiracy of the BJP. It is a constitutional mechanism,” she said, adding that opposition to it reflects “political opportunism and hypocrisy.”

She argued that critics cannot claim to uphold the Constitution while simultaneously opposing a process that is mandated within it.

Making a strong case for the Women’s Reservation framework, Swaraj said the aim is to ensure actual participation of women in politics. “We do not want women’s reservation to be mere lip service. We want it to reflect the actual number of women in representation,” she said.

She explained that simply passing a law is not enough, and its implementation must lead to a tangible increase in women’s presence in legislative bodies.

Swaraj used a simple analogy to explain the linkage between delimitation and the reservation law. “If delimitation is the road, then the Women’s Reservation Bill is the destination. Please do not confuse the road and the destination,” she said.

According to her, delimitation is a necessary step to operationalise the reservation framework effectively.

Responding to criticism from Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who has described the move as a “power-grabbing” exercise, Swaraj rejected the claim. “It is not a power-grabbing move; it is a power-balancing move,” she said.

Swaraj also recalled that the Women’s Reservation Bill had received broad political backing when it was passed in 2023 and said Parliament had collectively committed to its implementation.

She said the current step is a continuation of that promise and urged all parties to support its rollout.

Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now