New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday responded to remarks by Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav, stating that his responsibility is to work for all sections of society, regardless of caste.
The exchange took place during a discussion in the Lok Sabha, where Yadav had alleged that despite belonging to the Other Backward Classes, the Prime Minister does not adequately represent the community’s interests. In response, Modi acknowledged his background but emphasised his commitment to inclusive governance. He noted that the Constitution guides his approach and highlighted that his position reflects the opportunities created by its framework.
The debate unfolded in the context of discussions around the proposed Women’s Reservation Bill, which seeks to provide 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Yadav stated that his party opposes the bill, along with related legislative proposals, on constitutional grounds. He argued that the measures could alter the structure of representation by separating delimitation from the census process.
The Samajwadi Party has also called for the inclusion of provisions for OBC and Muslim women within the reservation framework, making it a key condition for their support. Additionally, party leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, stressed the need to conduct a nationwide census before undertaking any delimitation exercise.
Responding to these concerns, Home Minister Amit Shah assured the House that the census process is already underway and confirmed that a caste based enumeration will also be conducted. He added that the current phase focuses on listing households and that further steps will follow as planned.
The discussion reflects broader political differences over representation, reservation policies, and the sequencing of census and delimitation, issues that are expected to remain central to legislative debates in the coming months.
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