Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi | Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Friday demanded the Centre withdraw its proposed amendments in connection with women reservation in Parliament and legislative assemblies, claiming that it was aimed at destroying the unity and democracy of the country.
Chennithala also said that there was "no sincerity" behind the Women Reservation Amendment Bill.
"If they (Centre) are sincere about women reservation, they should implement it in the current number of seats in the Lok Sabha," he told reporters in Delhi.
He said that the opposition is unitedly opposing the amendment as it is aimed at "destroying" the unity and democracy in the country.
Chennithala further claimed that the bills have been brought in "haste".
"These will not benefit the country. It will only weaken the democracy in the country. The amendments have been brought with an eye on the elections. Therefore, the bills should be withdrawn," he contended.
A special three-day sitting of Parliament is being held from April 16 to 18, during which amendments to the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', commonly known as the Women's Reservation Act, mandating 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, will be brought for implementation in 2029.
The amendments also seek to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 850 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise to be carried out based on the last published census.
The opposition in the Parliament has objected to the amendments and demanded that the Centre withdraw the same.
