Amit Shah Targets Akhilesh Yadav Over Muslim Women Quota Demand in Lok Sabha

A tense political face-off unfolded in the Lok Sabha as Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav locked horns over the issue of reservations, particularly concerning Muslim women, during discussions on key legislation linked to women’s representation.

The debate comes at a time when the government is pushing forward a set of bills aimed at enabling 33% reservation for women in legislatures, while opposition parties continue to question the timing and framework of these proposals.

During the discussion, Akhilesh Yadav argued that Muslim women should be given specific representation within the broader women’s reservation framework. He also pressed the government on why it was not waiting for updated population data, reiterating his party’s demand for a caste-based census before implementing such major reforms.

Responding sharply, Amit Shah dismissed the proposal of religion-based quotas, stating that such provisions would not align with constitutional principles. He emphasized that reservation policies cannot be framed on religious lines.

Taking a dig at the opposition, Shah suggested that political parties are free to distribute their election tickets as they wish, indirectly challenging the Samajwadi Party to demonstrate its commitment by nominating Muslim women candidates.

The discussion further expanded into the issue of census and caste enumeration. Shah informed the House that preparations for the census process are already underway and indicated that caste-related data will be included when the exercise is conducted.

On the other hand, Akhilesh Yadav questioned the urgency of passing the bills without updated demographic data, arguing that such information is crucial for fair and effective policy implementation.

The exchange highlights a growing divide between the government and opposition over how reservations should be structured. While the ruling side is focused on implementing women’s reservation, opposition leaders are pushing for a more inclusive approach that factors in caste and community-based representation.

With multiple bills lined up for debate, the issue is expected to remain at the center of political discourse in the coming days.