Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concerns over the proposed special session of Parliament to deliberate on the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, raising questions about its timing and the lack of clarity on key issues such as delimitation.
In his letter dated April 11, 2026, Kharge acknowledged that the landmark women’s reservation legislation had been passed unanimously in September 2023, but underscored that the Congress had consistently pushed for its immediate implementation. “Though, in your letter, you have mentioned that there was broad consensus for its immediate implementation, you did not implement the same,” he wrote, noting that nearly 30 months have elapsed since the law was enacted.
The Congress leader expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as the government’s failure to consult opposition parties before convening the special sitting from April 16. “This special sitting has been called without taking us into confidence, and your government is seeking our cooperation again without revealing any details of the delimitation to be undertaken,” Kharge said, adding that without clarity on such a critical aspect, “it would be impossible to have any meaningful discussion on this historic law.”
He also challenged the government’s assertion that political parties had been consulted, stating that opposition leaders had instead been urging the Centre to convene an all-party meeting after the ongoing round of state elections concludes on April 29, 2026. “I am pained to point out that this goes against the truth,” Kharge wrote, emphasising that meaningful dialogue has not taken place.
Criticising the timing of the proposed session, Kharge argued that holding it amid ongoing elections raises concerns about the government’s intent. “The calling of a special sitting during the ongoing state elections only reinforces our belief that your government is hurrying the implementation of the Bill to gain political mileage rather than truly empower women,” he said.
The Congress chief further cited what he termed the government’s “past record” on major policy decisions, including Demonetisation in India 2016 and the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax, saying it does not inspire confidence on matters of public importance. He stressed that the constitutional changes linked to the law would have far-reaching implications for both the Centre and the states, making wider consultation essential in a democratic framework.
Invoking the Prime Minister’s stated commitment to strengthening democracy and fostering collective decision-making, Kharge suggested that the government convene an all-party meeting after April 29 to deliberate on delimitation and other issues tied to the implementation of the women’s reservation law. “It is important that all parties and states, however small they may be, are heard in a democracy,” he said.