Union home minister Amit Shah NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday hit out at the opposition over its criticism of the women’s reservation bill and the proposed delimitation, accusing it of pushing a “north-south division narrative.”Speaking in the Lok Sabha ahead of voting on the bill, Shah sought to rally support and asserted that delimitation would ensure fair and equal representation across states.“Let me make this clear once again: the southern states have exactly the same rights in this House as the northern states. In fact, even a small Union Territory like Lakshadweep has the same rights as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Bihar,” he said.Addressing concerns around a “north-south divide,” Shah cautioned against framing the issue in regional terms.“This country should not be divided through such narratives, neither a north-south narrative nor any other divisive framing. It should not be broken into pieces on such lines. What are they trying to imply? That members sitting in this House think about which state they come from while speaking or taking decisions?…When we take the oath, we do so with full sincerity and from the heart,” he said.He further accused critics of misusing constitutional discourse.“Those who have taken the constitutional oath in their hands are now trying to promote a North-South division narrative. We will not allow this to happen…” Shah said.Backing his argument with numbers, the home minister said the southern states would not lose representation after delimitation.“Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Keralam – the strength of these five states in the 543 parliamentary seats is currently 129, which is 23.76%. After a 50% increase, when we allocate the seats for these five states, it will rise from 129 to 195, which will represent 23.87% in 816 seats. No one will be at a loss,” he said.While in a strong counter to Centre’s proposal on women reservation, the Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav said, “Based on nearly 11 years of experience, even if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were to give a written assurance that they would appoint a woman Prime Minister, we still would not trust them…”About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWomen’s Bill: Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP Of Trying To Change Electoral Map, Takes ‘No Wife’ Jibe At PM“Can’t Be Condemned Enough”: Rajnath Singh Slams Rahul Gandhi’s “Magician” Remark On PM Modi‘Recently Removed’: Raghav Chadha’s Dig At AAP In Rajya Sabha Raises Questions Over Party UnityIndia Drops to 6th Largest Economy: Why IMF Data Doesn’t Tell the Full StoryBig Setback For Congress Leader Pawan Khera: Supreme Court Refuses Bail Relief, Shifts Case To Assam’PM Modi Doing Nautanki’: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee Targets Govt Over Women Quota BillIndia, Pakistan Held Four Backchannel Meetings After Operation Sindoor Despite Frozen Ties: ReportMystery Killings Or Covert Strike? India’s Most Wanted Terror Figures In Pakistan Fall One By One‘Home Minister Says One Thing, Bill Says Another’: MP Kanimozhi Slams Delimitation Move As DMK ProtestsFrom WhatsApp Groups To Arson: How Noida Workers’ Protest Turned Violent Amid Pakistan Links123PhotostoriesTop 7 South Mumbai’s high-end neighbourhoods shaping India’s luxury real estateSmriti Irani enjoys authentic Bengali sweets: 8 traditional sweets of Bengal you need to try during summer10 delicious banana desserts you can easily make in minutesRed Banana vs Yellow Banana: Which is healthier? Full nutrition comparison of taste, benefits, and daily useForget wheat flour and try these traditional dishes made with rice flourR. Madhavan on Parenting: 5 Ways to raise kinder, more patient kidsThe ocean is scarier than you think: 10 chilling factsTop 5 iconic towers dominating global skylines and redefining luxury real estateTop 7 baby girl names inspired by VenusVirat Kohli in spotlight: Another ‘accidental like’? Cricketer likes model Liz Laz’s post, Avneet Kaur controversy resurfaces – all you need to know123Hot PicksIran warWipro buyback planPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNashik TCSAmir HamzaRahul GandhiDianna RussiniDelhi WeatherCBSE Class 10 TopperMunawar FaruquiNashik TCS CaseNHL ScheduleTiger Woods
NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday hit out at the opposition over its criticism of the women’s reservation bill and the proposed delimitation, accusing it of pushing a “north-south division narrative.”Speaking in the Lok Sabha ahead of voting on the bill, Shah sought to rally support and asserted that delimitation would ensure fair and equal representation across states.“Let me make this clear once again: the southern states have exactly the same rights in this House as the northern states. In fact, even a small Union Territory like Lakshadweep has the same rights as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Bihar,” he said.Addressing concerns around a “north-south divide,” Shah cautioned against framing the issue in regional terms.“This country should not be divided through such narratives, neither a north-south narrative nor any other divisive framing. It should not be broken into pieces on such lines. What are they trying to imply? That members sitting in this House think about which state they come from while speaking or taking decisions?…When we take the oath, we do so with full sincerity and from the heart,” he said.He further accused critics of misusing constitutional discourse.“Those who have taken the constitutional oath in their hands are now trying to promote a North-South division narrative. We will not allow this to happen…” Shah said.Backing his argument with numbers, the home minister said the southern states would not lose representation after delimitation.“Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Keralam – the strength of these five states in the 543 parliamentary seats is currently 129, which is 23.76%. After a 50% increase, when we allocate the seats for these five states, it will rise from 129 to 195, which will represent 23.87% in 816 seats. No one will be at a loss,” he said.While in a strong counter to Centre’s proposal on women reservation, the Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav said, “Based on nearly 11 years of experience, even if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were to give a written assurance that they would appoint a woman Prime Minister, we still would not trust them…”
