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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday announced that the party will convene an all-party meeting on April 15 to deliberate on the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, accusing the Centre of failing to initiate broader consultations with all stakeholders.

Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Kharge said that while the Congress fully supports the legislation, its implementation requires detailed and inclusive discussions given its wider national implications.

“The Centre has called a meeting. I have already replied to the letter written either by Kiren Rijiju or even the Prime Minister to me,” he said.

“If they (Centre) call all parties and allow discussions, we can participate and offer our suggestions. But they are not prepared to call all-party meeting. That is why we are once again convening an all-party meeting on April 15. Whatever decision we take in that all-party meeting, we will convey it,” Kharge added.

 

The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha reiterated that the Congress has consistently supported women’s reservation and rejected claims that the party opposed the legislation.

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“Apart from that, none of us are opposed to Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam or women's reservation Act. We have already supported it, and it is an Act that was passed unanimously. They are simply trying to take political advantage of this,” he said.

Kharge also highlighted the party’s long-standing support for one-third reservation for women, noting that former Congress president Sonia Gandhi had raised the issue years ago.

“We have already implemented it in panchayats, zila panchayats, and even in corporations. So there is no need to teach us lessons,” he said.

He stressed that any decision of such national importance must be taken after collective deliberation among all political parties.

“So let us see. We have called an all-party meeting on the 15th, and we will all sit and discuss,” he added.

The remarks come ahead of a special three-day sitting of Parliament from April 16 to 18, during which amendments related to the Women’s Reservation Act, also known as the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, are expected to be taken up for implementation from 2029.