Weapon of mass distraction: Congress slams Govt.’s delimitation proposal

Congress criticises PM Modi's proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats, calling it a "Weapon of Mass Distraction" from pressing issues.

The Congress launched a scathing attack on the Modi government on Sunday over its delimitation proposal related to the implementation of the women's reservation law, saying it will benefit larger and populous states more and is nothing but a “weapon of mass distraction”.

The Opposition party also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “hoodwinking” people by claiming that the strength of the southern States in the Lok Sabha will not go down under the proposed changes as the gap in the number of seats between the more populous States and others will increase.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said, “The PM is up to his usual tricks of making misleading statements that are meant to deceive. He says South Indian states will not be hurt in any way if the strength of the Lok Sabha is increased by 50% and the number of seats of each state in the Lok Sabha is also increased by 50%.”

“This is hoodwinking the people of the country in which the PM has unique expertise,” he said.

For example, the difference between Uttar Pradesh’s and Kerala’s seats in the Lok Sabha is now 60 and Mr. Modi's proposal will increase it to 90, he said.

Similarly, the difference between Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu will increase from 41 to at least 61, Mr. Ramesh said, adding that such examples can be multiplied.