Parliament on verge of history, says PM Modi, as it readies to take up women’s bills | India News
New Delhi: On the brink of making parliamentary history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that before the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha take up his government’s bill to implement women’s reservation in legislatures from 2029, he expressed confidence amid partisan voices from the Congress and its allies that the opposition would back the measures to ensure support.While several opposition parties slammed the government for “rushing” through the bills in the middle of state elections and questioned the boundary proposal, Modi refrained from joining the issue at an event and instead spoke of the cross-party support the proposal has long enjoyed.
Each political party will be credited with the passage of the Women’s Quota Bill: Prime Minister Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of cross-party support for the women’s quota proposal, which is to be enacted into law in 2023, and insisted that credit for its passage rests with each political party. Addressing an audience of women achievers from various fields at the Nari Shakti Bandan programme, which was also attended by Congress’ former Lok Sabha speaker Meera Kumar, the Prime Minister said that India is about to take one of the most important decisions of the 21st century and the decade-old wait for reservation of one-third seats in Lok Sabha and Assemblies for women will end in the 16th three-day session of Parliament. “Our country’s Parliament is on the verge of making history,” he said while emphasizing his commitment to empowering women as the Chief Minister of Gujarat by launching numerous schemes targeting various sectors for their welfare. He drew universal laughter and applause as he mentioned how his steps to financially empower women, including building government-aided houses registered in their names, gave them a say in their family’s decision-making. Modi said that when the law was enacted in 2023, everyone wanted its speedy implementation, with opposition MPs particularly vocal about its implementation from 2029 onwards. The government also takes seriously what the opposition says, he added. He said, this time again it is our priority to do it through dialogue, cooperation and everyone’s participation. The government needs the support of at least a section of opposition parties to pass the constitutional amendment bill, which requires a two-thirds majority, but none of the BJP’s main rivals, including the Congress, TMC, DMK and SP – four parties with enough MPs to deny its passage in the Lok Sabha – have so far pledged clear support.
