New Delhi, April 17 (NationPress) Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed his concerns in the Lok Sabha on Friday, asserting that the impending delimitation process could be perceived as a form of political demonetisation. He urged against its association with women’s reservation, emphasizing that it touches upon the very essence of our democracy.

While addressing the assembly, Tharoor remarked, “This issue is fundamental to the core of our democracy.”

“For numerous years, the concept of women’s reservation has been promised, debated, and frequently postponed. We are now at a pivotal moment where there exists a significant political agreement on the necessity for women’s reservation. Every significant party in the House acknowledges that the time for mere tokenism has passed, and the period of true equal partnership is at hand. However, I find us deeply troubled by this legislative endeavor,” he stated.

Tharoor referenced the government's stance, saying, “The Prime Minister announced that the government has delivered Nari Shakti a gift of justice, but he has tied the enactment of women’s reservation to the expansion of Parliament based on the 2011 Census and the delimitation process.”

He contended that this provision could be enacted immediately without the need for such a convoluted process.

“Women’s reservation is ready for implementation; it can and should be enacted immediately based on our current parliamentary strength. To link it to delimitation is to hold the dreams of Indian women hostage to one of the most contentious and intricate administrative processes in our nation’s history. Delimitation is not merely a bureaucratic reorganization of boundaries; it signifies a substantial shift in political authority,” Tharoor articulated.

“By connecting women’s reservation to this process, we effectively imprison the aspirations of Indian women to one of the most contentious political exercises in our history. This carries risks that could jeopardize the integrity of our federal structure,” he warned.

In a pointed comment, Tharoor stated, “You have proposed delimitation with the same urgency as that shown during demonetisation, and regrettably, we are all aware of the damage that caused to the nation. Delimitation will emerge as a form of political demonetisation. Please reconsider this.”

Tharoor underscored the importance of broader consultation, saying, “We must be forthright about what is at stake. Constituencies are redefined based on either current population estimates or the 2011 Census. Delimitation calls for serious deliberation.”

He highlighted regional disparities, stating, “The equilibrium between states, especially southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, which have diligently pursued national objectives of population control and invested in inclusive human development, and northern states that have not, would shift under future delimitation. States that have failed to manage population growth would gain greater political influence. We must question if this is the message we want to convey: that governance excellence leads to political marginalization.”

“Additionally, we must consider the balance between states that drive our economy, contributing more to the national treasury than they receive, versus those that are net beneficiaries of central funding. Delimitation could further diminish the voices of those productive states,” he added.

“We risk fostering a tyranny of the democratic majority,” he concluded.