Implement 2023 law without any conditions: LoP Rahul counters Rijiju

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday hit back at Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju over the implementation of the women’s reservation law, saying the legislation was passed unanimously in 2023 with the Congress’ support and questioning why its implementation is now being linked to delimitation.

Responding to Rijiju’s remarks on X, Gandhi said the government should implement the 2023 law without attaching additional conditions.

“Mr Rijiju, who would know better than you, as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs -- that the Women's Reservation Bill 2023 has already been passed unanimously, with the full support of the Congress,” Gandhi said.

“The question is, why has it still not been implemented even after three years, and why do you now want to unnecessarily link it to delimitation? Implement the 2023 law. Without any conditions,” he added.

The exchange followed Gandhi’s recent comments on women’s freedom and participation in public life. In an Instagram post on Friday, he elaborated on remarks made during his “Ask Me Anything” session a day earlier, arguing that India cannot realise its full potential unless women are able to express themselves freely.

Gandhi said women’s empowerment should extend beyond representation in politics and business to their everyday lives, including their homes, families and public spaces. He also stressed that women should have the freedom to express views that differ from those around them and to question established social norms.

Rijiju responded by suggesting that Gandhi’s remarks could indicate a change in the Congress’ approach towards women’s political representation.

“This seems to be a positive message from the Congress Party. There's a visible change of heart in Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji about the women. Now, I hope Congress Party will support the Women's Reservation Bill unconditionally,” Rijiju said.

Gandhi subsequently challenged that position, pointing out that the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, popularly known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, had already been passed by Parliament.

The law provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies and the Delhi Legislative Assembly. However, its implementation is linked to a delimitation exercise following the relevant census process.

### Delimitation remains at the centre of dispute

The political disagreement has intensified over the government’s efforts in 2026 to advance the implementation of women’s reservation through constitutional changes linked to delimitation.

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced in April, sought to bring forward the implementation of one-third reservation for women while also facilitating changes to the composition and delimitation of legislative constituencies.

However, the Bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha and was defeated in April.

The government has maintained that delimitation is necessary to operationalise the constitutional provisions on women’s reservation, while the Opposition has questioned why the implementation of the 2023 law should remain dependent on the delimitation process.

The latest exchange between Gandhi and Rijiju therefore reflects a larger political disagreement over not just women’s representation, but also the timing and mechanism through which the constitutional reservation is eventually brought into effect.
 

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