The Lok Sabha witnessed the treasury and the Opposition sparring over the introduction of Constitution amendment bills
By NIRENDRA DEV
New Delhi, April 15, 2026 — The special session of the Lok Sabha began on a stormy note as the proposed Delimitation Bill triggered a sharp political confrontation between the government and the opposition.
Senior Congress leader K C Venugopal accused the Indian National Congress described as a “fundamental attack on India’s federal structure.” Objecting to the introduction of the Bill, Venugopal alleged that the government was attempting to “hijack Indian democracy.”
Responding to the objections, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Home Minister Amit Shah maintained that procedural rules allow only technical objections at the introduction stage, not a debate on the Bill’s merits.
Defending the government’s position, Shah said the census process had already begun and confirmed that a caste-based census would be conducted at a later stage. Taking a swipe at the Samajwadi Party, he remarked, “Gharo ka jaati nahi hoti,” suggesting that the opposition was politicising caste issues prematurely. He clarified that caste data would be included once the full population census begins.
Shah also reiterated the government’s stance against religion-based reservations, stating that “any kind of reservation for Muslims in the name of religion is unconstitutional.”
“The Modi government knows the mindset of the Indian people, and it is scared of the 2029 elections. It wants an escape route to cover up for 2029. That is why it is bringing an unconstitutional Bill,” said the Congress.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav opposed the Bill along with related legislations, asserting his party’s support for women’s reservation.
The Congress further questioned the delay in implementing the 33% women’s reservation law, linking it to the sequencing of census and delimitation. The party alleged that the government is deferring key constitutional measures ahead of the 2029 elections.
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