Amaravati, April 17 (NationPress) The YSR Congress Party has expressed its support for the delimitation process in the Lok Sabha but has called for the assurances provided by the Union Government to be formally integrated into the legislative framework.

During a session in the Lok Sabha, YSRCP MP P. V. Midhun Reddy endorsed the remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah about a proportional increase in parliamentary seats based on the current strength of each state. Nevertheless, he emphasized that mere verbal assurances are inadequate and must be codified into law.

He reminisced about the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, when both Congress and BJP had assured the state of Special Category Status. He underscored that these were only oral promises that never materialized. Citing this history, he insisted that the current assurances must be embedded in the Bill to prevent a recurrence of past failures.

Midhun Reddy also mentioned that a proposal to amend the Bill to reflect this assurance has already been introduced. He urged the government to accept the amendment to ensure the Home Minister's statement is legally enforceable.

While discussing the need to address national disparities, he stressed that the government must also prevent the creation of new regional inequalities within states post-delimitation. He advocated that the criteria for increasing seats at the national level should equally apply within states.

Furthermore, he expressed apprehensions regarding the composition of the Delimitation Commission. He noted that if the State Speaker fails to allocate representation to opposition parties, it could result in biased practices. He demanded that the Bill include provisions to guarantee fair representation for all political factions, both ruling and opposition.

Midhun Reddy asserted that delimitation should be a constructive national initiative, not a mechanism to marginalize the opposition.

On the subject of women's reservation, he reaffirmed his party's unwavering support. He stated that the party has consistently championed women's empowerment and welcomes the Women's Reservation Bill in any form.

He also pointed out the initiatives undertaken by former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, highlighting that women were allocated 50% reservation in local governance and nominated positions, and that welfare schemes prioritized women. He mentioned that approximately 32 lakh houses have been registered under women's names.

He firmly called for stringent legislation to ensure women's safety, alleging that some MLAs in Andhra Pradesh have engaged in harassment of women through calls and messages, with evidence available publicly.

The MP expressed worry that women who come forward to report harassment face intimidation themselves, and lamented the lack of action against the alleged perpetrators. He demanded decisive measures against those responsible, regardless of their political standing.