PM Modi thanks MPs, declares passage of women’s reservation bill in LS as ‘golden moment’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude for the successful passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. During his address to the Lok Sabha, PM Modi credited MPs from all political parties for their support in passing the Women’s Reservation Bill, declaring it a ‘golden moment’ in India’s parliamentary history.

“Yesterday’s decision and today, when we cross the last mile after the Rajya Sabha passes the Bill, the transformation in the faces of the women of the country and the trust that will be formed, will emerge as an unimaginable and unprecedented power that will take the country to new heights. I can feel this,” PM Modi said.

Meanwhile, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal presented the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, proposing a constitutional amendment to reserve one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies for women. This move was described by Meghwal as a significant step.

On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha had approved the Women’s Reservation Bill, which mandates a 33 percent reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, passed after a response by Law Minister Meghwal.

The bill was approved through a division, with 454 members voting in favour, and only two against it during the passage motion presented by Meghwal. Proposed amendments by opposition members were rejected, and there were votes on various clauses of the bill.

The ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ represents the first legislation passed by the Lok Sabha in the new Parliament building following its move on Tuesday.

PM Modi hailed the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ as a historic legislation that would further strengthen women’s empowerment and enhance their participation in the political process. The bill passed with a majority of the total House membership and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.

In 2010, the Rajya Sabha had previously passed the Women’s Reservation Bill during the Congress-led UPA government, but it was not taken up in the Lok Sabha and subsequently lapsed in the lower House of Parliament.

The government introduced the new bill on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing the government’s intention to enact the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.’

The Special Session of Parliament, which commenced on Monday, will continue until Friday.