PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday criticised theUnited Opposition after the Women’s Reservation Bill failed to get the requiredtwo-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, calling it an injustice to women.
Sawant said that women have been denied the respect andpolitical representation that was expected under the initiative of PM NarendraModi.
“The respect that was supposed to be given to women throughthis initiative was not given. By defeating the bill, the Congress and itsalliance parties have hurt the sentiments of women,” he said, while speaking tothe media on the sidelines of an event.
The Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 failed to secure passagein the Lok Sabha on Friday, in what is NDA govt's first legislative defeat,after failing to get two-thirds majority during the special session ofParliament.
Opposition parties, on the other hand, stated that theysupport early implementation of women’s reservation but strongly objected tothe proposed Delimitation Bill.
While backing reservation for women in principle, Oppositionmembers criticised the Union government’s proposal to increase the Lok Sabha’scurrent strength from 543 to 850 seats and to allow delimitation based on the2011 Census.
CM Sawant had earlier stated that if the bill is passed, Goacould also witness an increase in Assembly seats following the delimitationprocess.
As per the constitution, Women’s Reservation bill can bepassed only after census and delimitation.
