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Book Fair crosses demonetisation hurdle

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Book Fair crosses demonetisation hurdleWorld Book Fair unaffected by demonetisation

By Karan Kaushik

Delhi is one city which is known for its love for reading and what could have been a better option to spend the much-awaited Sunday holiday for Dilliwallahs than being in the company of books. The World Book Fair is on at Pragati Maidan and people are flocking in large numbers to buy their favourite books and explore new authors and their works. At a time when demonetisation has badly affected the purchasing power of people, the book fair seemed hardly impacted.

In fact, this is the first time at the book fair that publishers and stall owners are encouraging their customers to use digital payment methods. While point-of-sale machines are being used in significant numbers at the fair, it is mobile wallet Paytm which is helping most customers and sellers. One could see Paytm boards at every other bookstall and sellers still dependent on cash payment are planning to transition soon.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]”The fair is a big hit after the note ban and we are witnessing a bumper sale, we have not received a single complaint about cash hassle so far,” informed Kumar Samresh, Deputy Director, Publicity, Establishment and Training, of the National Book Trust, the organiser of the event. Kumar added: “This year, we are celebrating 60 years of NBT and the theme for this year is Manushi, which is writing on women by women, which is getting a good response from visitors.”

img_20170108_165635Kumar also said that children’s books and fiction are the best-selling genres and that NBT has seen the best crowd this year because of the theme of Manushi and also because schools are closed and children are coming with their parents in huge numbers. “We expect a footfall of one lakh on Sunday,” he said.

Speaking about digital payments, Beyaz Hashmi of the Indira Gandhi National Centrefor the Arts said: “Yesterday, we did the first sale of Rs 5,000 through digital payment and this is the first time we are using POS machine at our stall because we did not have one at the Cochin Book Fair and we suffered losses. So this time we rushed to our bank and got the machine issued so that our sales don’t dip.”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]But not every stall is using digital payments. Mudasir Ahmed of the Kashmir Book Trust said that they are still making do with cash payments and plan on switching to Paytm soon. Talking about the response of visitors, Ahmed said: “We are getting a good response and books mainly about conflict are the best-sellers. People want to know about the real picture of Kashmir and we want to spread knowledge through our books. Lost in Terror by NayeemaMahjoor is the best-seller this time.”

The stalls which are witnessing the largest rush are the ones selling novels and books at prices as low as Rs99. You can buy classics—Charles Dickens, Emily Bronte, Shakespeare—at Rs99.

The fair also has educational books to offer with topics as varied as criminal courts,the cuisine of Punjaband mechanical vibrations and engine failure analysis to human rights, gender issues and the environment.

img_20170108_173531Then there are those amazing coffee table books that book lovers are always attracted to. Some impressive ones are Memorials of Jaypore Exhibition of 1883, Raja Ravi Varma– Painter of Colonial India, The Drawings of Adimoolam and Kalighat Painting.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Rashmi Gupta, a student who is preparing for the civil service exams, seemed interested in reading about issues of international importance. “I am buying books on military strategies, mass mediated terrorism, nuclear diplomacy and insurgency and counter insurgency. I love reading about all these issues,” Gupta said.

The Theme Pavilion at the book fair is displaying some of the finest works on and by women over centuries. The Pavilion will also host talksas well as cultural programmes throughout the duration of the fair.

The fair will continue until January 15. Entry tickets cost Rs 30.[/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.

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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.

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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.

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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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