Talking about the increased number of seats in the new Parliament House
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi commented on the issue of proportion-per-population delimitation and the increased number of seats in the new Parliament House. He expressed concern about the changes in the representative structure of the country and wanted to understand the criteria behind the decision to have 800 seats. He emphasized the importance of fairness in the negotiation process between different parts and states of India.
Gandhi regarded the Parliament House issue as a distraction from the real problems in India, such as unemployment, rising prices, social divisions, and a deteriorating education and healthcare system. He suggested that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) avoids discussing these issues and instead focuses on superficial matters.
During his interaction with the Indian diaspora in the United States, Gandhi also addressed the provision of 888 seats in the newly inaugurated Parliament building and whether population proportion was a fair method of representation. He compared the situation to a shop of love in a marketplace of hatred, stating that all minorities, including Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Dalits, and the poor, feel the impact of inequality in India. He highlighted the vast wealth disparity and the need to combat hatred with love and affection.
Gandhi expressed surprise at the powerful impact of his yatra (a journey or tour) and stated that the majority of people in India do not believe in hatred or violence. He attributed the perpetuation of hatred to a small group of individuals who control the system, and media, and are supported by wealth.
