“How Can One MP Handle 49 Lakh Voters?”: Amit Shah Defends Women’s Reservation Push

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the Women's Reservation Bill, strongly defending the government's stand and responding to criticism from the opposition.

He said the government is committed to ensuring that women get proper representation in Parliament, and the bill is a major step in that direction.

Women's Reservation to Be Implemented by 2029

Amit Shah said that the bill has been introduced now so that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections can be held with women's reservation in place. He clarified that the opposition is not really against delimitation, but is "only and only" opposing women's reservation.

He stressed that the government is fully committed to implementing the quota for women and ensuring their greater participation in politics.

Why Delimitation Is Important

Shah explained that delimitation (redrawing of constituencies) is necessary before implementing the bill. He said many Lok Sabha constituencies have become too large, making it difficult for MPs to connect with people and address their problems.

He pointed out the imbalance by saying that in some states, one MP represents lakhs of voters, while in others, the number is much smaller. He added that delimitation is the only way to correct this uneven system.

Increase in SC/ST Seats After Delimitation

The Home Minister also said that once delimitation is carried out, the number of seats reserved for SCs and STs will increase. He accused those opposing the bill of indirectly opposing the expansion of representation for these communities.

Opposition's Stand and Political Attack

Amit Shah said that apart from the I.N.D.I alliance, no other party has opposed the bill. He added that while opposition members claim they support women's reservation, they continue to raise doubts and conditions.

He also criticised Rahul Gandhi for using what he called "unparliamentary language" during the debate.

Shah further attacked the Congress party, saying it has always opposed key decisions taken by the government, including the abrogation of Article 370, airstrikes, and the construction of the Ram Mandir.

Sharp Remarks on Women's Power

During his speech, Shah made strong remarks about women voters. He said:
"Iss desh ki mahilaye dekh rahi hain ki unke aage badhne ka rasta kaun rok raha hai (Women of this country are watching who is blocking their progress)."

He added:

"Yahan shor sharaba karke bach jaoge, lekin jab mataon-behno ka gussa saamne aayega tab samajh aayega (You may escape by creating noise here, but when the anger of women comes out in the public, you will realise its impact)."

Assurance to Southern States

Amit Shah also addressed concerns of southern states regarding delimitation. He said states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala will not lose representation.

Currently, these five states have 129 seats (23.76%). After a proposed 50% increase in total seats, their representation will rise to 195 seats (23.87%) in an expanded Lok Sabha of 816 seats.

Praise for PV Narasimha Rao

Shah praised former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao for introducing 33% reservation for women in local bodies. He added that the Congress party failed to give proper recognition to its own leader.

Caste Census Announcement

To remove confusion, Shah said that the government has decided to conduct a caste census along with the 2026 population census, as approved by the Narendra Modi Cabinet.

Attack on Congress Over OBC Stand

Shah accused Congress of hypocrisy, saying the party had historically opposed OBC reservations, including the Mandal Commission. He said leaders like Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi did not support OBC quotas, but now the party claims to support them.

History of Delimitation Freeze

The Home Minister accused Congress of delaying delimitation for political reasons. He explained that:

• In 1972, under Indira Gandhi, seats were increased but later frozen
• In 1976, during the Emergency, delimitation was banned through the 42nd Amendment
• In 2001, the freeze was extended till 2026

He said these decisions were taken to preserve political power.

Why the Bill Was Introduced Now

Shah clarified that the 2023 Women's Reservation law already linked its implementation to delimitation after 2026. Since delimitation has been frozen since 1971, it is necessary to wait until after 2026 for implementation.

"One MP Cannot Handle 49 Lakh Voters"

Defending the bill, Shah questioned how a single MP can effectively represent nearly 49 lakh voters in one constituency. He said the bill aims to improve governance and ensure better representation.
He also noted that around 130 MPs spoke during the debate, including 56 women MPs.