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75th Anniversary of Quit India Movement: Modi talks of ‘sankalp se siddhi’, Sonia says secular, democratic values in danger today

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9 years ago

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PM Modi in Lok sabha

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]To mark the 75th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Quit India Movement, both houses of Parliament debate the country’s past and present. Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls for ‘sankalp se siddhi’ but Opposition reminds government of the threat to freedom of expression, India’s secular ethos

As both houses of Parliament participated in a discussion to mark the 75th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Quit India’ call to the British, Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed corruption, poverty and illiteracy as “the greatest challenges” facing India today and sought special initiatives to end these over the next five years.

While Modi took the opportunity to move his ‘sankalp se siddhi’ (accomplishment through resolve) campaign, the Opposition took advantage of the Prime Minister’s presence in the House to attack him and his government for the growing threat to India’s secular and democratic fabric and the Constitution in the wake of rising incidents of caste and communal violence and the perception of a tacit approval by the State to muzzle any form of dissent.

The Prime Minister re-phrased Gandhi’s oft-quoted mantra during India’s freedom struggle – Karo ya maro (Do or Die) – into Karenge Aur Kar Ke Rahenge(We will do and surely do) and said that it is this spirit that would help end the ills of corruption, poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition

“In 1942, the clarion call was Do or Die; today it is ‘Karenge Aur Kar Ke Rahenge.’ The next five years should also be about ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi’, a resolve which will lead us to accomplishment,” Modi said during his 30-minute address.

Asserting that by 2022 – the 75th anniversary of India’s independence from the Raj – the country must try to bring positive changes so that it can become an inspiration for other nations, Modi said: “In 1942 (when the Quit India call was given), conditions internationally became favourable for India to gain independence. Today again, global conditions are favourable for India”.

Modi said the recollection of movements such as the Quit India was a source of inspiration and the current generation has a responsibility of passing on the legacy of such movements to the future generations.

However, soon after Modi finished addressing the House, Congress president Sonia Gandhi rose to take not-so-subtle jibes at the BJP, asserting that “some organisations opposed the Quit India movement”.

Sonia’s comment was a pointed reference to VD Savarkar, an icon for the BJP and its parent organization – the RSS, who opposed Mahatma Gandhi’s movement.

Sonia Gandhi in Lok Sabha“We must not forget that some organizations opposed the Quit India Movement, such organisations had no role in the freedom struggle,” the Congress president said, as Modi listened in.

Given that the Treasury benches, predictably, refused to highlight the contribution of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress party in the freedom struggle, Sonia made it a point to assert that “During the freedom struggle, Pandit Nehru spent several years in jail, many Congress workers died in jail…A lot of atrocities were committed on the (Congress) protesters, but no one stepped back”.

Sonia wondered if the “forces of darkness” were trying to destroy the roots of democracy in India today while saying that there was a feeling that the “clouds of the politics of division and hate are hovering over the plural and egalitarian values enshrined in the Constitution”.

“It seems secular, democratic and liberals values are being endangered. The public space for debate and difference of opinion is shrinking… Have the forces of darkness emerged? Is there a fear about the existence of a sense of freedom? Are attempts being made to destroy roots of democracy which is based on equality, social justice, law-based system and freedom of expression,” Sonia said.

Sonia said that people today have to fight for the India that was envisioned by its founding fathers and that “We cannot and will not allow the idea of India to be a prisoner to narrow mindedness, divisive and communal ideology. If we have to preserve freedom, we will have to defeat the forces endangering it. We can’t and we won’t allow sectarian forces to succeed”.

What other MPs said:

In the Rajya Sabha, CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said: “If there is anything that must quit India today, it is the neo-liberal reforms and communalism that must.”

In the Lok Sabha, BJD MP Tathagata Satpathy made an impassionate speech, insisting that “We’ve changed Gandhiji’s “karo ya maro” to “kare ya maare”, adding that “We cannot afford to give an ‘us vs. them’ country to our people…We cannot give our teenagers a distorted image of this country. It is sad to see that we, in our petty desires, have forgotten the interests of this country”.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Amit Shah counters delimitation concerns, says southern states to gain Lok Sabha seats

Amit Shah assures Parliament that southern states will gain Lok Sabha seats after delimitation, countering opposition criticism during the women’s reservation debate.

Published

6 hours ago

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April 16, 2026

By

Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday addressed concerns over the proposed delimitation exercise, asserting in the Lok Sabha that southern states will not lose representation but instead see an increase in their number of seats.

His remarks came during a heated debate linked to the implementation of women’s reservation, where opposition parties have raised fears that population-based delimitation could reduce the political weight of southern states.

Shah rejected these claims, calling them misleading, and said the proposed framework ensures fairness while expanding the overall strength of the Lok Sabha.

Seat count to rise with expansion of Lok Sabha

The government has indicated that the total number of Lok Sabha seats could increase significantly as part of the delimitation process. In this expanded House, the combined representation of southern states is expected to rise from 129 seats at present to around 195 seats.

Shah emphasised that no state will lose seats in absolute terms, and the exercise is designed to reflect population changes while maintaining balance across regions.

State-wise projections shared in Parliament

During his address, Shah also provided indicative figures for individual southern states, suggesting notable increases in representation. According to the projections:

  • Tamil Nadu could see its seats rise substantially
  • Kerala, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh are also expected to gain additional seats
  • Karnataka’s representation may increase as well

These figures were presented to counter the argument that delimitation would disproportionately favour northern states.

Political debate intensifies over linkage with women’s quota

The delimitation exercise has been closely linked to the rollout of women’s reservation, which proposes one-third seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies.

Opposition leaders have questioned this linkage, arguing that tying reservation to delimitation could delay its implementation and raise federal concerns. Some leaders have also warned that the move could impact national unity if apprehensions among states are not addressed.

The government, however, maintains that the reforms are necessary to ensure equitable representation and to align the electoral system with demographic realities.

Centre dismisses ‘false narrative’ on southern states

Shah reiterated that concerns about southern states losing influence are unfounded. He said the delimitation process will increase representation across regions and described the criticism as a “false narrative” aimed at creating confusion.

The issue is expected to remain a key flashpoint as Parliament continues discussions on the women’s reservation framework and related legislative changes.

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PM Modi assures no discrimination in women’s quota, delimitation debate intensifies in Parliament

PM Narendra Modi has assured that women’s reservation will be implemented without discrimination, amid a heated debate over delimitation in Parliament.

Published

13 hours ago

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April 16, 2026

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PM modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that there will be no discrimination in the implementation of women’s reservation, as Parliament witnessed a sharp debate over the proposed linkage between the quota and delimitation exercise.

During the ongoing special session, the government reiterated its commitment to ensuring fair representation while addressing concerns raised by opposition parties regarding the timing and structure of the legislation.

The proposed framework aims to reserve 33 percent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. However, its implementation is tied to a fresh delimitation exercise, which is expected after the next census.

Opposition questions timing and intent

Opposition leaders have raised concerns that linking the women’s quota to delimitation could delay its implementation. They argue that the process of redrawing constituencies may push the actual rollout further into the future.

The issue has triggered a broader political confrontation, with multiple parties questioning whether the move could alter representation across states.

Some critics have also alleged that the delimitation exercise could disproportionately benefit certain regions based on population, a charge the government has rejected.

Government reiterates commitment to fair implementation

Responding to these concerns, the Centre has maintained that the reforms are necessary to ensure accurate and updated representation based on population data.

Leaders from the ruling side have repeatedly emphasized that the process will be carried out transparently and without bias. The assurance that there will be “no discrimination” is aimed at addressing fears among states and opposition parties.

The debate marks a key moment in Parliament, with both sides engaging in intense exchanges over one of the most significant electoral reforms in recent years.

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Give all tickets to Muslim women, Amit Shah says, attacking Akhilesh Yadav on sub-quota demand

A sharp exchange between Amit Shah and Akhilesh Yadav in Parliament over sub-quota for Muslim women highlights key divisions on women’s reservation implementation.

Published

15 hours ago

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April 16, 2026

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A heated exchange broke out in Parliament during discussions on the women’s reservation framework, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav locking horns over the demand for a sub-quota for Muslim women.

The debate unfolded as the government pushed forward key legislative measures to implement 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Akhilesh Yadav argued that the proposed reservation must ensure representation for women from marginalised communities, including Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Muslim women. He said that without such provisions, large sections could remain excluded from political participation.

He also questioned the timing of the bill, alleging that the Centre was avoiding a caste census. According to him, a census would lead to renewed demands for caste-based reservations, which the government is reluctant to address.

Government rejects religion-based quota

Responding to the demand, Amit Shah made it clear that reservation based on religion is not permitted under the Constitution.

He stated that any proposal to provide quota to Muslims on religious grounds would be unconstitutional, firmly rejecting the idea of a separate sub-quota for Muslim women within the broader reservation framework.

The government has maintained that the existing framework already includes provisions for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) women within the overall reservation structure.

Wider political divide over implementation

The issue of sub-categorisation within the women’s quota has emerged as a major flashpoint, even as most opposition parties broadly support the idea of women’s reservation.

Samajwadi Party leaders reiterated that their support for the bill depends on inclusion of OBC and minority women, while the government continues to defend its constitutional position.

The debate is part of a broader discussion during the special Parliament session, where multiple bills linked to delimitation and implementation of the women’s quota are being taken up.

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