Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged the Centre to widen consultations on the proposed Delimitation Bill, telling Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju that “more consensus
is needed” before the legislation is brought to Parliament, according to sources.
During a meeting held amid the ongoing Parliament deadlock, Rahul Gandhi suggested that the government convene an all-party meeting, circulate the draft Bill among political parties and have Union Home Minister Amit Shah engage directly with the Opposition.
According to sources, Rahul Gandhi told Rijiju that more consensus is needed. He said that an all-party meeting should be held first and the draft with a 50% seat hike proposal should be circulated among all political parties. He further demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah should meet them.
Also Read: In Centre’s Delimitation Outreach, Kiren Rijiju Meets Rahul Gandhi Amid Parliament Logjam: Sources
The nearly 50-minute meeting at Rahul Gandhi’s Parliament office was also attended by senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Govt Reaches Out To Oppn Parties
The meeting came as the Centre initiated outreach to the Congress to gauge its position on the proposed Delimitation Bill, with the government seeking to build broader political consensus before moving ahead.
The outreach comes at a time when the government has also begun engaging other Opposition parties over the proposed Bill.
Parliament Logjam
The discussions took place against the backdrop of repeated disruptions during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The Opposition has been demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah make statements in Parliament on issues including the police action against students during the July 20 CJP-led protests and the alleged embezzlement of donations meant for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Also Read: Govt Proposes 3-Day Special Parliament Session From Aug 16 To Pass Delimitation Bill: Sources
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Opposition MPs marched from the Gandhi statue at Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar inside the Parliament complex, protesting against the police crackdown on students and raising other issues.
The continuing standoff has severely disrupted parliamentary business, with repeated adjournments preventing normal proceedings since the Monsoon Session began on July 20.
