In 1976, Indira Gandhi froze the numbers of Parliamentary seats each state had. The argument was simple: states doing well when it came to family planning should not have to suffer by having their representation in Parliament reduced.

But the Modi government now seeks to end this freeze with a new set of bills. And it wants it to be done urgently: a special session of Parliament will convene on Thursday to try and pass these laws.

To understand why the South is opposing this, Scroll speaks to John Brittas, Raja Sabha MP from Kerala.