Congress leader and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a light-hearted banter with Home Minister Amit Shah on the treasury bench opposite her, mocked the minister, saying that even Chanakya would be “shocked” by his “political machinations”.
Speaking during the ongoing special session of the Lok Sabha to discuss the three bills that seek to increase seats from 543 to 850 and ensure one-third representation of women in the lower house, Priyanka said the bills are a way for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to retain power.
“The present government is once again trying to fool the nation, launching a major attack on the integrity of the country. On the one hand, it talks amply about empowering women, while on the other hand, it is quietly taking away the rights of NGOs and weakening some states. The present government is once again trying to fool the nation, launching a major attack on the integrity of the country,” Priyanka said when she met a smiling Amit Shah from the turn across the Lok Sabha.
She responds to this and smiles herself, saying: “The Minister of Interior is laughing. Their entire plan is ready.”
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“If Chanakya were alive, he would be shocked at your political machinations,” she said, and the whole house burst into light laughter.
Amit Shah’s confirmation for the southern states
Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking after Priyanka Gandhi, sought to emphasize that the increase in Lok Sabha will not lead to deprivation or discrimination against any state.
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Addressing the opposition’s concerns about the representation of southern states, Shah said that seats in the Lok Sabha would be increased in proportion to the existing seats.
He also gave details on the number of seats that will be increased for the southern states, saying that Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka will increase from 28 to 42, Andhra Pradesh seats will increase from 25 to 38, Telangana seats will increase from 17 to 26, and Tamil Nadu seats will increase from 39 to 59.
He also said that the representation of all these states will remain as it is now, even after the increase in seats.
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PM Modi says women’s quota bill will not discriminate
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the Lok Sabha on Thursday and asserted that the Women Reservation Bill will not discriminate against anyone.
Modi urged the opposition to support the bill and said it provided a “guarantee” that it would not lead to political benefit to one group.
However, he also warned that those who object to the bill will not be “forgiven” by the country’s women.
