New Delhi, 16 April (H.S.):

Home Minister Amit Shah firmly opposed religion-based reservations during fiery Lok Sabha exchanges Thursday as the government tabled three bills linking delimitation to women's quota implementation. He urged opposition to allow debate, promising responses to all concerns.

Congress, SP, TMC, DMK, and allies vehemently contested introduction of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill-2026, Delimitation Bill-2026, and Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill-2026, forcing a division vote. Speaker and Parliamentary Affairs Minister dismissed procedural objections, citing members' rights under constitutional and legislative norms.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav accused haste to evade fresh census data revealing caste demographics, enabling quota demands. Shah called caste census ongoing per government decision, deeming Muslim women's quota unconstitutional: Religion-based reservation is impermissible.

Akhilesh retorted half the population includes Muslim women; Shah countered SP could field them on all reserved seats without objection.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar