Parliament Special Session was a Festival of Nostalgia; Women’s Reservation Bill Passed

The special session starting on 18 Sep saw both Houses remembering the Parliament's journey of 75 years - achievements, experiences, memories, and learnings. In keeping with the current right-wing government’s thrust on turning India into a Hindu nation, the shift to the new Parliament building took place on 19 Sep which was a festival of Lord Ganesha – the Hindu God of beginnings. After many aborted attempts in the last 28 years, the government brought in the Women's Reservation Bill but with riders: no reservation for the Other Backward Class (over 50% of the population that is educationally and socially behind) - the reason why the Bill failed earlier - and the Bill will be implemented only after the next census and the national delimitation exercise. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin has called the delimitation exercise based solely on population – which will give extra seats to north Indian states – a Damocles Sword hanging on the southern states for maintaining better developmental indices. If the government indeed wanted better representation for women, the Bill could have been in effect by 2024.