Even as Tamil Nadu has announced a state-wide black flag agitation on Thursday against the delimitation bill, saying that it would harm the state's interests, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi too claimed that southern states and northeastern states will suffer a "massive loss" because of the bill.
His statement comes even as the BJP leadership hailed the bill, with some of them calling it "the biggest decision of this century."
In a video message after the opposition meeting, during which it was agreed that the parties would vote against the delimitation provisions in the Constitution amendment bill in Parliament, Gandhi called it an "anti-national activity."
"...Grave injustice is being done. PM doesn't want this decision to be taken on caste census, fresh census and OBC census. He wants the 2011 census to be used wherein there is no data for the backward class. He wants to snatch away your share from you. The new census has begun. What we are saying that why are you not passing the women's bill on the basis of OBC census," the Congress leader said in his video message.
He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the RSS and the BJP are nervous because caste census data have begun coming in, and they have realised the actual share of the backward class in this country.
Gandhi charged that the BJP is not just against the backward class, but is also indulging in anti-national activity.
"Backward class comprises 50 per cent (of the population) and should get their share. PM is snatching away your share and trying to lie to you. His proposal is also leading to another dangerous thing. The truth is that if what Modi ji wants indeed happens, small states, southern states and northeastern states' representation will be lower. They are going to suffer a massive loss."
Gandhi said that if the government is serious about implementing the women’s reservation bill, it must base it on updated data from an OBC census and the 2026 Census, rather than relying on the 2011 Census, which does not include data on OBCs.
He added that the bill can be implemented immediately and would have the opposition’s full support. However, Gandhi warned that his party would oppose any move that undermines the interests of backward classes, southern states, and smaller states.
The Congress leader further said, "Modi ji, you want to give a message to the country that you are pro-women, but I know that you are nervous due to the Epstein Files. 35 lakh files are locked up in the US, and the keys are in the hands of Trump. You are scared of that. But this is not the way. You want the number of seats to increase and delimitation to happen as you want, and the backward class doesn't get anything. We will not let this happen. Old data will not work. Only the 2026 caste census will work..."
Opposition unites against the bill
Earlier in the day, the leaders of several INDIA bloc constituents met at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence to evolve a joint strategy in Parliament during its three-day special sitting starting Thursday.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien said on X: "We are doing all what it takes to defeat the stunt being presented as a Bill in the Lok Sabha."
CPI(ML) Liberation leader Dipankar Bhattacharya said the opposition must unitedly defeat this "assault" on the Constitution and stop this "sinister" delimitation design.
In a post on Facebook, he said, "The government must not be allowed to rob southern India and smaller states and India's under-represented bahujan community of their due share in the name of women's reservation."
Besides Kharge and Gandhi, the other leaders at the meeting included DMK's T R Baalu, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, TMC's Sagarika Ghosh, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and Arvind Sawant, and NCP-SP's Supriya Sule, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav joining virtually.
Stalin, Vijay speak in one voice
DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who has been opposing delimitation fiercely said stepped up the attack against the Centre and announced a state-wide black flag agitation on Thursday and warned the Centre of consequences and a "heavy price" if it did not heed to Tamil Nadu's voice.
Stalin, after chairing an emergency meeting of party MPs and DMK district secretaries through video conference on the issue, said, "the sword that hung over our heads has now descended upon us."
The DMK is reaching out to MPs across states and devising a coordinated strategy to counter this "grave danger", he said.
In a statement, Stalin alleged the delimitation amendment the Union BJP government planned to bring in the Parliament on Thursday was a "massive, historic injustice" against Tamil Nadu and the southern states.
He also led a march in Salem against the move with allies including Premalatha Vijayakanth and Kamal Haasan.
Though the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of Vijay welcomed the bill seeking to provide 33 per cent reservation for women, the party opposed the Constitution (131st Amendment) bill, 2026, as it would significantly increase the proportional difference in representation between the southern and northern states.
"If this happens then the representation of the southern states will decline while that of the northern states will rise in matters such as lawmaking related to language, culture, and state rights, as well as in shaping the union government policies," Vijay said in a statement posted on the social media platform 'X.'
As a result, the voices of the people of the southern states, especially Tamil Nadu, which has consistently adhered to the union government directives, may not be adequately heard in the Parliament, he said.
BJP calls it historic
The BJP leadership has been waxing eloquent about the bill, saying this is a matter of pride.
"Tomorrow, on April 16, a new history will be written... This is truly the biggest decision of this century, through which our world's largest democracy will be proud. On my behalf, I express my gratitude to PM Modi," said Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
Former Rajasthan CM and senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje claimed that women had wanted this bill implemented for a long time. "We have seen the Congress rule; there was talk, but nothing was ever implemented on the ground. I thank the Prime Minister for understanding the pain of women and bringing this to Parliament... There will be a three-day special session, and I am confident it will be implemented by the 2029 elections," she said.
Union Minister Satish Chandra Dubey claimed that the Nari Shakti Vandan Act has already been passed; now it needs to be implemented. "There will be a debate on it, after which it will be implemented."
