'No one could ever call me anti-women': Tharoor shares details of conversation with Rijiju
New Delhi (PTI): Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday shared a snippet of his conversation with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju after the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die, and said the BJP leader conceded that “no one could ever call me anti-women”.
Tharoor also said women are by far the better half of the species – 'Humans 2.0' – and deserve representation in Parliament and in every institution.
“Just don’t link their advancement to a mischievous and potentially dangerous Delimitation that could devastate our democracy,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP said on X.
Sharing a picture of some opposition MPs standing with Rijiju in the Lok Sabha, Tharoor said, “A little post-adjournment gathering of Opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha with our charming Parliamentary Affairs Minister.
“When Kiren Rijiju explained why he and his party were calling the Opposition ‘mahila virodhi', it was pointed out to him that no one could ever call me anti-women! He conceded the point…”
“Let’s face it, women are by far the better half of the species. They’re the improved models: Humans 2.0. They deserve representation in Parliament and in every institution.”
In a major setback to the government, 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 on Friday.
While 298 members voted in support of the bill, 230 MPs voted against it. Out of 528 members who voted, the bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.
The bill proposed to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats 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.
The three-day special sitting was convened from April 16 to 18 to secure Parliament's approval for the bill.
After the bill was defeated on Friday, the Congress said the "nefarious attempt" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to link their "dangerous delimitation proposals" to women's reservation had been decisively defeated in the Lok Sabha, calling it a win for democracy and the Constitution.
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Chikkamagaluru: A man allegedly impersonating an IAS officer managed to gain the confidence of officials and staff at the district hospital in Chikkamagaluru, attending meetings and public events before his identity came under suspicion.
According to a report by Deccan Herald, the accused, identified as Mithun, introduced himself as the Commissioner of the National Health Mission (NHM) and district in-charge for Chikkamagaluru. He also claimed to be a native of Chikkaballekere village in Kadur taluk.
Believing his claims, District Surgeon Dr Chandrashekar reportedly introduced Mithun to other officials. Photographs of Mithun attending meetings at the district hospital and being felicitated by religious leaders at a Basava Tatva Peetha programme have since circulated widely on social media.
Dr Chandrashekar said he had trusted Mithun based on his conduct and presentation. He said he initially believed that Mithun was an IAS officer from a rural background who had cleared the examination through hard work, and only later realised that he was allegedly an impostor.
The incident has also triggered allegations from the Lisa Foundation, which has sought action against Dr Chandrashekar. The organisation claimed that Mithun was introduced to medical shop owners through him and alleged that Mithun had promised a ₹1.80 crore contract for supplying medicines to Primary Health Centres in the district. The foundation has demanded suspension of the District Surgeon and a detailed inquiry.
Chikkamagaluru Medical College Dean Dr Ravi said Mithun was not known to him and had not conducted any official meetings. He said he had seen Mithun once in the District Surgeon’s room and was told that he was a probationary IAS officer, but had doubts about his identity.
Following the incident, BJP workers staged a protest in the city, accusing the administration of negligence and demanding action against the District Surgeon for introducing the alleged fake officer.
Meanwhile, a case has been registered at the Amruthahalli Police Station in Bengaluru based on a complaint filed by medical shop owner S G Satish. The complaint states that Mithun was introduced through Dr Chandrashekar and that ₹36 lakh was allegedly paid as a bribe in his presence, along with an additional ₹5 lakh transferred to Mithun’s bank account.
Dr Chandrashekar said he has appeared before the police to give his statement as his name figures in the complaint. He also claimed that Mithun had cheated him and said he would file a separate complaint with the Chikkamagaluru police.
