'No injustice will be done to any state': PM Modi's guarantee in Lok Sabha over delimitation fears

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the Lok Sabha during a debate on the proposed amendment to the women’s reservation law, stating that no injustice would be done to any state, from East to West or North to South in delimitation process.

He said, “I rise in this House with a sense of responsibility to say from this sacred place that, whether it is the South, North, East, or West, whether small states or large, the processes being undertaken will not discriminate against anyone.”

Earlier in the day, Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Amit Shah introduced three bills aimed at amending the women’s reservation law and establishing a delimitation panel in the Lok Sabha. The proposals were strongly criticised by the opposition, which called them “anti-constitutional” and a threat to the country’s federal structure.

Speaking amid a charged debate, Modi said the decision-making process would not do injustice to any region or section of the country, and assured that the proportion followed since the last delimitation would remain unchanged.

“Any future increase will also be in the same proportion. If you want the word ‘guarantee,’ I am ready to give a guarantee. If you want a promise, I am ready to make a promise. When the intent is clear, there is no need to play with words,” he added.

During the debate, Modi also said India’s development cannot be measured by infrastructure alone, but must also reflect the participation of women in policymaking.

“In India’s development journey, MPs have an opportunity to make women part of decision-making,” he said, stressing that including women in governance is essential to building a developed nation.

The Prime Minister also cautioned against giving the issue a political colour, asserting that women’s reservation in legislatures should be seen as a national priority rather than a partisan matter.

“There is no need to politicise women’s reservation,” he said.

Modi also said the ruling dispensation does not want credit for implementation of the women reservation law in 2029 and offered to give credit to the opposition.

"If you oppose it, it is natural that I will gain political benefit, but if you walk along, no one will gain any political advantage," he said.

The prime minister said when the Parliament was discussing the women reservation legislation in 2023, people were saying, "hurry up".

"But it couldn't happen in 2024, because it can't be done in such a short time. Now in 2029, we have time. If we don't do it even in 2029, we can imagine what the situation will be like. The demand of the time is that we should not delay any further now," he said.

Lok Sabha on Thursday took up the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Delimitation Bill, 2026, for debate and passage.

According to the proposal, the strength of Lok Sabha will be increased to 815, of which 272 seats will be reserved for women -- a total of 33 per cent.

(With PTI inputs)