Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has criticised Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram over his remarks on the implementation of the women’s reservation law. Fadnavis accused Chidambaram of having a “selective memory” and argued that the issue cannot be viewed only through the lens of the legislation passed by Parliament in 2023.

Fadnavis pointed out that the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, provides for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, but its implementation is linked to a Census followed by delimitation. He claimed that the government has been working towards creating the framework required to make the reservation effective and suggested that political opposition should not be presented as a lack of government intent.

Responding to the political debate, Fadnavis said, “तो बहती गंगा में हाथ धो लो,” taking a swipe at what he described as an attempt to take political advantage of the issue. Chidambaram, meanwhile, had highlighted that Parliament had already passed the women’s reservation legislation in 2023. The exchange has once again brought the timeline and conditions for implementing the 33% quota to the centre of political discussion.