New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday took a swipe at the government after it released a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to reservation for women in legislatures, saying they read more like "Factually Abused Quackery" and were a "damage control exercise" after its "humiliating defeat" in the Lok Sabha.
The opposition party's dig came after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 was defeated in the Lok Sabha.
Also Read: Priyanka Gandhi, Dimple Yadav back 2023 women's quota act, but reject 2011 census link; target BJP over delimitation row
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "The Modi government is on a damage control exercise after its humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha on the night of April 17th. It has released a set of FAQs and answers - not before introducing its bill but after they failed to pass the Lok Sabha."
"The FAQs -- which read more like the Government's Factually Abused Quackery -- are silent on the real questions about delimitation that were asked by the entire Opposition during the debate," Ramesh said.
Indeed the single most "factually inaccurate" sentence in the FAQ is the "fraudulent claim that delimitation of seats is needed for implementing reservation", the Congress leader said.
The FAQs came amid the opposition's claim that in the name of women quota, the government was trying to carry out delimitation.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Friday night after the opposition parties voted against it.
Also Read: Delimitation Bill 2026 shelved after women’s reservation amendment fails in Lok Sabha
Under the Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to up to 816 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.
Seats were also to be increased in state and UT assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
A two-thirds majority was required for the passage of the crucial Bill, but the BJP-led ruling alliance could not muster the numbers.
During polling, 298 members voted in support of the Bill, while 230 MPs voted against it. The Bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority needed to pass a constitutional amendment bill.
The opposition party's dig came after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 was defeated in the Lok Sabha.
Also Read: Priyanka Gandhi, Dimple Yadav back 2023 women's quota act, but reject 2011 census link; target BJP over delimitation row
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "The Modi government is on a damage control exercise after its humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha on the night of April 17th. It has released a set of FAQs and answers - not before introducing its bill but after they failed to pass the Lok Sabha."
"The FAQs -- which read more like the Government's Factually Abused Quackery -- are silent on the real questions about delimitation that were asked by the entire Opposition during the debate," Ramesh said.
Indeed the single most "factually inaccurate" sentence in the FAQ is the "fraudulent claim that delimitation of seats is needed for implementing reservation", the Congress leader said.
The FAQs came amid the opposition's claim that in the name of women quota, the government was trying to carry out delimitation.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Friday night after the opposition parties voted against it.
Also Read: Delimitation Bill 2026 shelved after women’s reservation amendment fails in Lok Sabha
Under the Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to up to 816 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.
Seats were also to be increased in state and UT assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
A two-thirds majority was required for the passage of the crucial Bill, but the BJP-led ruling alliance could not muster the numbers.
During polling, 298 members voted in support of the Bill, while 230 MPs voted against it. The Bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority needed to pass a constitutional amendment bill.
