CPI(M) urges Centre to keep women's reservation separate from delimitation
CPI(M) leader B.V. Raghavulu on Thursday urged the Centre not to link the proposed women's reservation legislation with the delimitation exercise. He asserted that opposition parties are prepared to support the Bill if it is introduced separately.
Addressing a press conference along with party State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao, Mr. Raghavulu alleged that the BJP was attempting to create the impression that opposition parties were obstructing the legislation. He noted that there was no consensus on the delimitation issue and that the Centre had not held adequate consultations with opposition parties.
Mr. Raghavulu said the government should first hold discussions with political parties before moving forward with the legislation.
Referring to the recent 'Gen Z' protests in New Delhi, he said the Prime Minister should respect the sentiments of students instead of attempting to suppress the movement. Mr. Raghavulu alleged that police had used excessive force against protesters and demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement in Parliament on the issue.
Commenting on political developments, Mr. Raghavulu claimed that the BJP's declining popularity had become evident in the recent Bihar elections, where voters expressed dissatisfaction with the party.
On State affairs, Mr. Srinivasa Rao called upon the government to release a White Paper on employment generation. He questioned the government's claim that 10 lakh jobs had been created and investments worth ₹11.5 lakh crore had been attracted to the State, alleging that employment opportunities for local people remained limited.
He further alleged that thousands of jobs had been lost in sectors such as steel, textiles, dairy and rural employment schemes. Mr. Srinivasa Rao also criticised the government's handling of the tobacco sector, accusing it of failing to ensure remunerative prices for farmers. He appealed to the government to release sufficient water to protect crops in the Krishna delta region and to increase water pumping from the Pattiseema project.
Earlier, Mr. Raghavulu and Mr. Srinivasa Rao released a book titled Caste Eradication: A Marxist Perspective. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Raghavulu said eliminating caste-based discrimination was essential for the country's progress and called for greater efforts to address social inequalities.
