PM attacks Congress, terms its politics parasite-like over women's bill: Full speech

Video: Priyanka Gandhi calls bill defeat in Lok Sabha a victory for democracy

The opposition has blocked a bill in Parliament, describing the move as a victory for democracy and the federal structure. The defeated legislation linked women's reservation to a new delimitation exercise based on the 2011 census. The opposition argued the bill was a move to alter parliamentary proportions, potentially reducing the political weight of Southern states and bypassing a caste census. Instead of the proposed changes, the opposition demanded the immediate implementation of the 2023 women's reservation legislation on the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats. Furthermore, there is a demand for an Other Backward Classes quota within the women's reservation framework. The opposition accused the government of using women's rights as a shield to push through a delimitation agenda that would alter electoral dynamics, stating they will fight for immediate representation without compromising the federal balance.