New Delhi, April 17 Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that the Union government is ready to bring an official amendment to provide 50 per cent reservation for women within an hour if a consensus is reached across political parties, amid a heated debate on the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament.
During the debate, Union Home Minister Shah said that if there was a broad consensus across parties, the Bill could be taken up and passed immediately.
"If there is agreement to pass the Bill, we can present it right away. We are even prepared to wait for an hour," he said, adding that the House could be adjourned briefly to facilitate discussions and finalise the proposal.
Responding to concerns raised by Congress leader K.C. Venugopal, Home Minister Shah acknowledged two key issues flagged by the Opposition -- the inclusion of a 50 per cent reservation quota for women and a constitutional safeguard to protect the number of seats allocated to states.
On the demand for enhanced reservation, the Union government struck a conciliatory note.
"If there is a demand to include 50 per cent reservation, we are ready to bring an official amendment within an hour. It will be prepared and circulated among all members. We have nothing to hide," the Union Home Minister said.
However, the Union government expressed reservations on linking the Bill with delimitation and the 2026 Census.
"On the issue of delimitation and the Census, we do not agree at this stage," Home Minister Shah clarified, indicating a divergence with the Opposition's position.
Countering the criticism, the Home Minister accused the Congress of attempting to delay the implementation of women’s reservation.
It described the Opposition's proposal as a "political move" aimed at ensuring that the provisions do not come into effect before the 2029 general elections.
The debate took a sharper political turn as Home Minister Shah warned of electoral consequences if the Bill failed to pass.
"If this Bill is not passed, the women of the country will see who stood in the way of their rights," he said, adding that women voters would hold opponents accountable in upcoming elections.
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