Panaji: Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress President Dr. Pratiksha Khalap has accused the BJP of using the Women’s Reservation Bill as a political tool for electoral advantage, alleging that the party is rushing to push the legislation without proper consultation or transparency.

Addressing a press conference in Panaji, in the presence of State Vice President Saiee Volvoikar and North District President Mollie da Gama Silva, Khalap said that while 33% reservation for women is essential and long overdue, the process being followed by the BJP raises serious concerns.

“The Women’s Reservation Bill is extremely important and we fully support it. But the process must be fair, transparent, and constitutional. What we are seeing now is a hurried attempt driven by electoral considerations,” she said.

Khalap alleged that the BJP is attempting to pass the Nari Shakti Vandana Adhiniyam Bill during a special Parliament session from April 16 to 18 without taking opposition parties into confidence.

Concerns Over Delimitation and Census

Highlighting constitutional provisions, Khalap pointed out that under the 106th Constitutional Amendment, reservation for women will only come into effect after delimitation is carried out following a census.

She warned that conducting delimitation without updated census data could distort representation across states.

“States with higher populations, particularly in North India, may gain more seats, while southern states that have controlled population growth could lose representation. This would disturb the federal balance,” she said.

She further expressed apprehension that constituency boundaries could be redrawn to suit political interests.

“There is a genuine fear that delimitation may be manipulated for electoral advantage, especially in constituencies where the BJP has previously lost,” Khalap alleged.

Demand for Transparency and Consensus

Khalap criticised the lack of consultation with opposition parties, calling it a “politically motivated U-turn.”

“Earlier, the government had stated that census and delimitation would be completed by 2026-27 before implementing the Bill. Now, suddenly, there is a shift. What changes are being proposed? Why is there no discussion? This lack of transparency is unacceptable,” she said.

She added that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has written to the Prime Minister seeking an all-party discussion on the Bill after April 29, considering ongoing elections in states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

Timing of Special Session Questioned

Questioning the timing of the special Parliament session, Khalap said it coincides with crucial election dates in West Bengal.

“Will leaders campaign in elections or attend Parliament? This session could have been scheduled after April 29. It appears to be a deliberate move to disrupt opposition campaigns and gain political mileage,” she alleged.

Call for Immediate Implementation

Khalap also challenged the BJP to implement 33% reservation within the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats instead of linking it to future delimitation.

“If the BJP is truly committed, what is stopping them from implementing reservation immediately? Why wait for increasing seats to 800? Women deserve real empowerment, not political drama,” she said.

Criticism of State Government

Taking a dig at Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, Khalap questioned the state government’s commitment to women’s rights.

“Women continue to face atrocities, yet there is no concrete action. There is not even a single woman minister in the cabinet. If the government is serious, it should demonstrate it through action, not rhetoric,” she said.

She also referred to recent protests at Chimbel, Mirabag, and Sarvan-Bicholim, stating that women have been at the forefront of these movements, but their concerns remain unaddressed.
Khalap concluded by alleging that the BJP is attempting to use the Women’s Reservation Bill as a vote-bank strategy.

“Women of India deserve genuine empowerment — not manipulation for electoral gains,” she said.