New Delhi, April 17: During recent parliamentary proceedings, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Malvinder Singh Kang delivered an address regarding the federal balance of India and the necessary steps to support women’s empowerment through legislative action. The representative from Sri Anandpur Sahib presented a case for protecting the political standing of states while simultaneously calling for the enactment of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
Kang asserted that the Aam Aadmi Party remains fully committed to the Women’s Reservation Bill, which received parliamentary approval in 2023. He declared that it is time for the central government to take the next step and implement the law on the ground to ensure women have greater access to political participation.
Reflecting on the historical foundations of these rights, Kang noted that the ethos of respecting and empowering women has been a pillar of the Sikh tradition for centuries. He stated that the vision of gender equality was practiced as early as 1920 by the SGPC, which provided voting rights to women. He maintained that these historical precedents underscore the importance of fostering an inclusive society.
The address also delved into the intricacies of the delimitation process. Kang shared his perspective on the potential consequences of restructuring constituencies, particularly for smaller states. He noted that while discussions regarding population are part of the legislative process, the unique contributions of states like Punjab, which historically sacrificed for the nation, require careful consideration.
He stated that the consequences of population control measures, which Punjab followed with sincerity, are currently impacting the state’s representation in the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha. Kang affirmed that a thoughtful approach is required to ensure that the process of delimitation does not diminish the voices of smaller states. He concluded by calling on the government to proceed with the implementation of the reservation law while ensuring that the federal structure and the equitable representation of all states are preserved.
