Delimitation bill LIVE: South share won't be reduced, says Amit Shah

Manish Tewari calls women’s bill ‘delimitation in disguise’, raises objections

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Thursday criticised the proposed legislation, alleging that it is “not a women’s reservation bill” but a delimitation exercise “dressed up” as one.

Akhilesh Yadav opposes women’s bill rollout, calls it ‘secret plan’

Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday criticised the Women’s Reservation Bill, calling it a “secret plan” and objecting to the manner in which it has been introduced.

Rijiju defends timing of the introduction of proposals

 Defending the government over why the bills were being introduced just days before elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju told HT: “If we bring it before the Lok Sabha elections, they will say that you are bringing it to get benefit …If we don’t do it now, after five months, there’s another round of elections. Then, you will say you are doing it for the Uttar Pradesh elections. Every year there are two rounds of elections… How can you stall the issue and link it with the state elections? It has nothing to do with it. This is a totally undesirable argument being put forward by the Opposition. Let us be very clear, women’s reservation cannot be equated with any kind of political agenda or used for political benefits. The bill was passed earlier, it is only a case of implementation.”

Trump says Israel-Lebanon leaders to speak after 34 years

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said efforts are underway to ease tensions between Israel and Lebanon, announcing that the two countries’ leaders are set to speak for the first time in over three decades.

Kanimozhi moves motion in Lok Sabha to oppose three bills, including delimitation

DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi has submitted a notice of motion in the Lok Sabha opposing the introduction of three key government bills — the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and the Delimitation Bill, 2026. The move comes amid heightened opposition from the DMK against the proposed delimitation exercise, which the party has argued could adversely impact the representation of southern states.

Special Parliament session begins today, delimitation and women’s quota in focus

The government will convene a special three-day session of Parliament starting Thursday, a sitting likely to be contentious as it prepares to introduce three key bills that could reshape India’s electoral framework and system of representation.

Indicating a major shift in how political representation is structured, the Centre will take up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Together, these proposals seek to enable fresh delimitation based on Census data, increase the strength of the Lok Sabha, and operationalise the long-pending one-third reservation for women.

Central to the session is the Constitutional Amendment Bill aimed at facilitating the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Although the women’s reservation law was passed in 2023, it has not yet been implemented as it is tied to a fresh delimitation exercise. The government now plans to amend the relevant provisions to enable its rollout ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

The Opposition has criticised the proposed delimitation exercise and is expected to push for its deferment until the 2021 Census data, likely to be released in 2027, is available. It is also set to raise concerns over the use of 2011 Census data as the basis for delimitation.

Stalin burns copy of delimitation bill, terms it 'black law'

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday burnt a copy of the delimitation bill and dubbed it a "black law" and alleged it seeks to make the Tamil people "refugees" in their own land.

Stalin hoisted a black flag and burnt a copy of the bill on delimitation circulated by the union government and raised slogans condemning the move, hours before the Parliament was to sit for a special session.

The CM burnt the copy of the bill at Namakkal in western Tamil Nadu where he is camping in connection with electioneering.

"Poradavom, Velvom ondraga" (Let us struggle, win together) was among the slogans raised by Stalin and others clad in black.

In a statement, Stalin said: "Let the flames of resistance spread across Tamil Nadu. Let the arrogance of the fascist BJP be brought down. Then, the fire of resistance against Hindi imposition that rose from Tamil Nadu scorched Delhi. It quietened only after Delhi was forced to yield." He was apparently referring to the anti-Hindi agitation in the 1960s in the state.

"Today, I have reignited that fire by burning the copy of this black law and hoisting the black flag against this black law that seeks to turn Tamils into refugees in our own land. This fire will now spread across the Dravidian land. It will rise, it will rage, and it will bring the BJP's arrogance to its knees," he added.

Indian envoy to US meets US Trade Rep amid talks on finalising trade deal

Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and former National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien in Washington.

The meeting on Wednesday comes as India and the US are negotiating the finer elements of a bilateral trade agreement (BTA).

A delegation of Indian officials is expected to visit the US to hold discussions on the bilateral trade agreement.

“Honored to host Amb. Jamieson Greer and Amb. Robert O’Brien at India House today,” Kwatra said in a post on X on Wednesday.

In February, India and the US announced finalisation of a framework for the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement. According to that framework, the US had agreed to reduce tariffs on India to 18 per cent.

“We had productive conversation on a range of bilateral cooperation opportunities. Also discussed important developments across the world. Appreciate their strong and continuing support for strong India-US ties,” Kwatra said.

Bilateral trade was part of the discussion during the recent visit of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Washington last week.

On February 20, the US Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump's tariffs policies imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEPPA) were unconstitutional.

India and the US were initially planning to sign the trade deal in March, but changes in the tariff landscape following the US Supreme Court ruling have altered the situation.

Official sources have earlier stated that the agreement will be signed once the new global tariff architecture of America is in place.

Senate Republicans again reject effort to halt Trump's Iran war

The Republican-led Senate on Wednesday rejected the latest Democratic attempt to halt President Donald Trump's war in Iran, turning aside a resolution that would require the US to withdraw forces from the conflict until Congress authorizes further action.

The 47-52 vote was the fourth time this year that the Senate has voted to cede its war powers to the president in a conflict that Democrats say is illegal and unjustified.

Republicans say they will keep faith in Trump's wartime leadership, for now, citing Iran's nuclear capabilities and the high stakes of withdrawal. But GOP lawmakers are also anxious for the conflict to end — and they may not defer to the executive branch indefinitely.

Some Republicans have already made clear that they are eyeing future votes that could become an important test for the president if the war drags on.

Under the War Powers Act of 1973, Congress must declare war or authorise use of force within 60 days of its start — a deadline that will arrive at the end of this month. The law provides for a potential 30-day extension of that deadline, but lawmakers have made clear that they want the administration to soon lay out a plan for the end of the conflict.

Israel, US goals 'identical'; prepared for any scenario: Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said Israel and the US share "identical goals" in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The Israeli prime minister said the US has been keeping Israel updated on its contacts with Iran and reiterated that both nations seek the removal of enriched material, an end to Iran’s enrichment capabilities, and the reopening of key maritime routes.

"Our goals and those of the United States are identical: We want to see the enriched material removed from Iran, we want to see the cancellation of enrichment capabilities within Iran, and of course, we want to see the opening of the straits," Netanyahu said in a statement.

"It is too early to say how this matter will end, or even how it will progress. In anticipation of the possibility that fighting may resume, we are prepared for any scenario," he said, referring to the fragile two-week ceasefire between Iran and US-Israel set to end on April 22.

As Israeli forces and the Shi'ite Lebanese group Hezbollah exchanged heavy fire, Netanyahu said the military continues to strike militant targets while standing by residents in northern Israel.

"I stand by the residents of the north who are continuing to stand firm. At the same time, our forces are continuing to strike Hezbollah," he said.

Referring to ongoing operations in Bint Jbeil, a key Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon, Netanyahu said Israeli forces were close to overcoming the area, which has long been considered a symbol of the group’s resistance since the 2006 war.