Union Minister Meghwal addressed key issues like ‘One Nation, One Election,’ women’s reservation, upcoming census, delimitation commission, among others.
New Delhi: Union Minister of Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, speaking at the ‘Legally Speaking’ event organised by iTV group (NewsX, India News and The Sunday Guardian), covered the topics ranging from the significance of “One Nation, One Election” initiative to electoral reforms and parliamentary challenges.
Meghwal said, “When PM Modi assumed office in 2014, prior to this, November 26 was observed as Law Day. It was PM Modi’s vision, stemming from his days as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, to honour the Constitution. He proposed that this day be observed as Constitution Day.”
Meghwal elaborated on the origins of this observance, stating that during Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary celebrations in 2015, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment issued a circular declaring November 26 as Constitution Day. He credited PM Modi for transforming the day into a national celebration of the Constitution’s legacy.
Regarding the recently approved proposal on “One Nation, One Election” proposal by the Cabinet, Meghwal said, opposition criticism that the government should instead focus on “One Nation, One Health System” or “One Nation, One Education System” should be dismissed as these objections are unrelated, emphasising the historical precedent for simultaneous elections between 1952 and 1967.
“The cycle was broken due to mid-term polls and Article 356 misused to dismiss state governments,” he stated.
Meghwal argued that the frequent imposition of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) disrupts governance and development.
“PM Modi called an all-party meeting in 2019 on this subject, attended by leaders from all major parties except Congress,” he revealed. He pointed to countries like Indonesia and the U.S. as examples of streamlined electoral processes, urging opposition parties to support the reform.
Moreover, on the upcoming Census and its implications for the Women’s Reservation Act, Meghwal clarified, “The delimitation process is constitutionally frozen until 2026. After 2026, a Delimitation Commission will determine which seats are reserved for women and reassign SC/ST seats based on population changes. The Women’s Reservation Act, granting 33% reservation in Lok Sabha and Assemblies, will be implemented in subsequent elections.”
Meghwal also addressed allegations of conspiracies aimed at destabilising India, citing recurring international controversies like the Hindenburg and Pegasus reports.
“Some entities seem agitated by India’s rapid economic growth and stable government. They act through international reports or controversies, often surfacing days before Parliament sessions. This is a pattern to disrupt our institutions,” he asserted.
Meghwal criticised the opposition for filing a no-confidence motion against the Rajya Sabha Chairman, terming it “unprecedented.”
He condemned their actions outside the Parliament, stating, “They hold press conferences and malign the Vice President, which the Constitution doesn’t permit. Discussions should happen inside the House. This shows disrespect toward the Vice President.”