New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday firmly rejected calls for reservation for Muslim women, stating in Parliament that the Constitution does not permit quotas based on religion. His remarks came during a heated discussion on the implementation of the women’s reservation framework.
Shah was responding to comments made by Dharmendra Yadav, who argued that his party would not support the proposal unless it ensured representation for Other Backward Classes, backward class women, and Muslim women. Dismissing the demand, Shah described the statement as unconstitutional and asserted that providing reservation on religious grounds is not legally permissible.
The exchange reflects growing political differences over how the women’s reservation policy should be structured and implemented. While there is broad support across parties for increasing women’s representation, disagreements persist over whether the framework should include sub quotas for specific communities.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju also weighed in on the issue, echoing the government’s stance. He stated that demands for reservation based on religion are inconsistent with constitutional principles and should not form part of the debate. Rijiju emphasized that discussions should remain focused on empowering women across all sections of society rather than being framed along religious lines.
The issue has emerged as a key point of contention during the ongoing parliamentary session, with opposition parties pushing for broader inclusion while the government maintains that any reservation policy must adhere strictly to constitutional provisions.
As deliberations continue, the debate highlights the challenge of balancing inclusive representation with constitutional boundaries in shaping the future of women’s political participation in India.
