Patiala: Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi has cautioned Punjab against the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise, alleging that the Narendra Modi govt was “maliciously” linking it with the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.Reacting to PM Modi’s Independence Day appeal to the opposition to cooperate in implementing the women’s reservation law, Gandhi said the move attempted to shift the responsibility for its non-implementation onto the opposition.He said the opposition supported the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed by Parliament in 2023, and that the Congress stood firmly for women’s reservation. “Once Parliament has passed the law, it should be implemented immediately,” said the Patiala MP.He alleged that the govt deliberately linked the women’s reservation legislation with the controversial delimitation exercise, thereby delaying its implementation.Gandhi warned that delimitation based on population could adversely affect Punjab’s political representation in Parliament. Citing an example, he said Uttar Pradesh could gain around 40 Lok Sabha seats, taking its tally to nearly 120, while Punjab might get only two additional seats over its existing 13.“Punjab’s voice in Parliament could get drowned in the din,” Gandhi said, adding that even if Union home minister Amit Shah’s formula for proportionate enhancement of seats was adopted, the increase could remain disproportionate among states.The parliamentarian urged the Centre to delink delimitation from women’s reservation and implement the Nari Shakti Adhiniyam immediately. He also appealed to the people and political parties in Punjab to adopt a united stand to safeguard the state’s interests in the forthcoming delimitation exercise.
