Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Apr 23: Criticizing the Central Government approach towards women’s reservation and delimitation, Udupi District Mahila Congress president Jyothi Krishna Hebbar said that women’s rights should not be reduced to symbolic gestures or rhetoric.

Addressing a press conference at the Udupi Press Club on April 23, Jyothi Hebbar said, “Stop calling it ‘Naari Shakti Vandana.’ This is language rooted in a male-dominated mindset. Women do not need to be worshipped; do not deny them the constitutional rights they deserve. Representation is not a charity or a favour you grant, it is our right.”

Jyothi Hebbar recalled that the UPA government had introduced the Women’s Reservation Bill in 2008 and 2010, and alleged that those opposing it then should not claim credit now. “In 2023, with full support from the Congress, the 33% Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in both Houses of Parliament,” she noted.

Jyothi Hebbar emphasized that delimitation is a complex issue that requires wider consultation and should not be linked with women’s reservation. “In the existing Lok Sabha of 543 members, 33% reservation should first ensure 181 seats for women,” she said, questioning the need to increase seats before implementing the quota. “What is the achievement in increasing 350 seats and then allocating 280 seats?” she asked.

Accusing the BJP-led central government of delaying implementation, she said the move to link delimitation with reservation exposes its “anti-women stance.” She further alleged that the timing of such moves during elections in various states was aimed at misleading the public and polarising women voters against the Congress.

Jyothi Hebbar also raised concerns over delimitation based on the 2011 census, stating that it could lead to imbalance in representation and injustice to southern states. “There is strong opposition to such attempts that may give dominance to a few northern states,” she said.

Pointing to the numbers in Parliament, Jyothi Hebbar said the BJP and its allies lack the required two-thirds majority to push such measures. “Out of 543 members, 362 votes are needed, while the BJP-led alliance has only 293. Under the guise of women’s reservation, attempts were made to secure political advantage through delimitation. This has failed, it is a victory for the Constitution,” she asserted.

Jyothi Hebbar demanded that the NDA government immediately convene an all-party meeting and implement the 33% women’s reservation in the next elections without linking it to any other issue. “Only when men give up 181 seats out of the existing 543 seats for women can it truly be called 'Naari Shakti.' Otherwise, using women merely as a tool for power by the BJP is not 'Naari Shakti,' but a misuse of it’,” she added.

Congress spokesperson Veronica Cornelio, and party leaders Bhanu Bhaskar, Geetha Wagle, Anitha D’Souza, Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje, and Shobha Nayak were present at the press conference.