Congress Leader Shashi Tharoor Lashes Out at Government Over Women's Reservation Bill

New Delhi: The issue of the Women's Reservation Bill has heated up the politics of the country. Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor has lashed out at the central government, saying that the government is in fact attacking the federal structure on the pretext of giving representation to women. Tharoor expressed concern that the delimitation exercise ahead of the 2029 general elections could upset the political balance between north and south Indian states. He alleged that the government is taking unilateral decisions without taking the opposition into confidence by calling a special session, which is dangerous for the dignity of democracy. Tharoor, in a historical reference, reminded that the Congress has always been a strong supporter of 33 percent women's reservation. He asserted that the Congress got the bill passed in the Rajya Sabha in 2013 itself during the UPA rule, which shows the party's commitment. However, there is a lack of transparency in the way the current government wants to implement the law. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting also stressed that the women's reservation bill should not be a mere political gimmick.