digital desk- During the discussion on Women’s Reservation Bill and delimitation proposals in the Lok Sabha, Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi strongly attacked the Central Government. He said that the government itself knows that this bill will not be implemented in its current form, yet it has been brought so that a political message can be given. Rahul Gandhi alleged that the real objective of the Women’s Reservation Bill is not to empower women, but to change the electoral map of the country. He said it was a “panic reaction” because Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to send two messages at any cost: first, to change India’s electoral balance and second, to show himself as a supporter of women. He said, “BJP is not stupid, they knew that this bill could not be passed, but still it was brought.” According to Rahul, this step is part of a political strategy in which women’s reservation is being used as a cover.

This has nothing to do with women’s empowerment – Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi said in clear words that “This is not a women’s bill, it has nothing to do with the empowerment of women. It is an attempt to change the electoral map of India.” He alleged that the government wants to weaken the political voice of OBCs, Dalits and Other Backward Classes through reorganization of constituencies. Raising the issue of caste census, he said that the government is deliberately ignoring it. Rahul Gandhi said the real question is whether caste census data will be used to decide representation in Parliament and assemblies or not. He alleged that the government is trying to keep this issue aside from representation for the next 15 years.

There has been discrimination against Dalits, OBCs – Rahul Gandhi

In his speech, Rahul Gandhi said that Dalits, OBCs and their women have historically been discriminated against in Indian society. In such a situation, this step of the government may prove to further weaken these sections. “An attempt is being made to snatch power from my OBC brothers and sisters,” he said. Rahul Gandhi also alleged that the BJP is trying to change the political map of the country, as was earlier seen in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir. He said that now preparations are being made to implement this experiment in the entire country, for which constitutional amendment will be required. He warned that the entire opposition will oppose this move and will not allow any attempt to weaken the democratic structure to succeed. According to Rahul Gandhi, this bill is more a part of “political engineering” than representation of women.