Women quota bill rests on flawed base, says Akhilesh

Lucknow: Questioning the very intention of the BJP led government at the Centre, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said the very basis of the proposed women reservation bill was ‘baseless' as it stood on population statistics compiled 15 years ago. He demanded that the reservation must be based on the present population share of women to ensure rightful representation.

"When the head count is flawed how can the reservation be calculated correctly?", Akhilesh said. "When the very intentions behind doing something are doubtful, it raises suspicion behind the entire move. Actually, the very basis of the women reservation bill is baseless," Akhilesh said on Sunday.


The SP chief's comments came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Budget session of Parliament has been extended for three days so that the law enacted in 2023 for providing 33%reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies could be implemented from 2029.

He said the proposed women reservation bill rests on the fact that women constitute a major chunk of the population and the proposal that they should be accorded one-third reservation, is based on this premise. But the fact that the premise comprises population statistics collected during the 2011 census, the very foundation of such a provision will not be based on the present count of women, Akhilesh said in a post on X.

"Hence my biggest objection is that the first census should be completed and then on the basis of the population of women reservation should be accorded," Akhilesh said. "The BJP and their associates want to hoodwink the women and dupe them. We will not allow this to happen," he said adding: "There should be no debate on the women reservation bill till the census is completed."

The SP functionaries scoffed allegations that the party was objecting to the BJP pushing the Women Reservation Bill as it will impact SP's prospects in 2027 assembly elections in UP. "Another baseless charge. The law is proposed to be implemented from 2029 and the elections will be held in 2027. Our only concern is that this reservation to women must not be half baked and half hearted. We should get completed the census which is presently underway and then move ahead," said an SP functionary.