The Lok Sabha has unanimously approved the Women’s Reservation Bill, marking a historic milestone with its provision for a 33 percent reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal provided an extensive explanation of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, which was subsequently passed.
During the division, an overwhelming 454 members voted in favor of the legislation, with only two members opposing it. The Opposition’s proposed amendments were rejected, and voting took place on various clauses of the bill. Speaker Om Birla announced the bill’s successful passage.
Following its clearance in the Lok Sabha, the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 is set to be taken up by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday (September 20). Notably, in 2010, the Rajya Sabha had previously passed the Women’s Reservation Bill during the Congress-led UPA government. However, it was not considered in the Lok Sabha and subsequently lapsed in the lower House of Parliament. This live blog, covering the day’s major events from the special parliamentary session, is now concluded, as the Rajya Sabha prepares for what promises to be a highly-anticipated and contentious session tomorrow.
Asaduddin Owaisi, Member of Parliament from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), has clarified his vote against the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. Owaisi cited concerns about the underrepresentation of Muslim women in Indian politics, emphasising the need to fight for the inclusion of both OBC and Muslim women.
Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament, Dimple Yadav, extended her congratulations following the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. However, she expressed concerns about the bill’s timing, stating that the government’s intent appeared to be politically motivated in light of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his delight at the successful passage of The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha, thanking bipartisan support from MPs.
The Rajya Sabha is scheduled to engage in a debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill tomorrow.
The Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha, garnering 454 votes in favour.
The Lok Sabha votes on the Women’s Reservation Bill, with Prime Minister Modi in attendance.
The voting will be conducted by ballot due to the delay in allocating division numbers in the new parliamentary building.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Lok Sabha where the special session of the Parliament is debating over the Women’s Reservation Bill.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, speaking during a Lok Sabha debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill, has declared a commitment to avoid any bureaucratic obstacles and ensure the bill’s progress.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed concerns circulating on social media regarding the Women’s Quota Bill. He questioned whether opposing the bill would expedite reservations for OBCs and Muslims and emphasized the need for a careful examination of the bill’s implications.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha said: “Yesterday was a day which will be written with golden letters in India’s parliamentary history as the bill to give reservation to women, which was pending for years, was tabled.”
The Speaker has extended Lok Sabha proceedings until the voting on the Women’s Reservation Bill is completed.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the Lok Sabha during a discussion on the Women’s Reservation Bill.
Rahul Gandhi firmly supports the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi during debate on Women’s Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha said: “On behalf of my party, I stand to oppose this (Women’s Reservation) legislation because the justification being given to bring the legislation is to ensure that more women get elected into the Parliament and the state assemblies. If that is the justification, why has that justification not been extended to the OBC and Muslim women, where their representation in this ‘August House’ is minimal.”
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman briefs the Rajya Sabha on ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Renowned boxer and former Rajya Sabha MP Mary Kom expressed her optimism about the imminent passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, she expressed her delight at the inclusion of prominent athletes in the discussions surrounding the bill.
Congress Member of Parliament Karti Chidambaram welcomed the bill’s principles but expressed reservations about its potential effectiveness.
Congress Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi is set to take an active role in today’s debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha.
Renowned content creator and actress Shibani Bedi has expressed her elation at the recent passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, describing it as a momentous occasion in history.
Popular actress Shehnaaz Gill has voiced her enthusiastic support for the Women’s Reservation Bill, hailing it as a significant step towards achieving gender equality in India.
During a recent debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal voiced her apprehensions regarding the bill’s long-delayed implementation.
CPI MP Binoy Viswam has expressed cautious optimism about the Women’s Reservation Bill, stating that while his party welcomes the legislation wholeheartedly, they remain skeptical of the BJP’s motives.
Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani passionately called upon the nation to translate words into deeds, emphasizing the importance of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
“The reservation is for the creamy layer, which is why the demand is that this (women’s) reservation should extend to backward and the most backward classes. It is to be seen what the government does,” says Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on the Women’s Reservation Bill.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said there are flaws in the Women’s Reservation Bill. “We would work to get those flaws corrected. The fact that it is going to take so long to implement is in itself a major flaw of the Bill. I don’t see how it will be possible for us to unilaterally announce support for a bill we believe still has gaps.”
Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav says, “Without revolution, evolution is not possible. For evolution to take place in our country, it is very important that women from OBC, SC and minorities get reservation.”
BJD MP Sarmishtha Sethi demands implementation of 33 per cent women’s reservation from 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav stresses on the importance of reservation for minority women and women from extremely backward castes. She registers her objection on BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s indirect remark on her later father-in-law and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh.
“Sharad Pawar was first to implement 33 per cent in panchayati raj,” says Supriya Sule
“My parents chose to have one child and it was me, same with Kanimozh. D Raja and Speaker also have one child and they are daughter.”
“Why should we not demand OBC/SC/ST reservation… let’s make a constitutional amendment and give a message.”
BJP MP Sunita Duggal says, “Women of the country were confident that Modi will do this (get the bill passed). She questions why the bill was not passed during the UPA regime and urges women across parties to rise above political lines in support of the bill.
Shiv Sena MP Bhawana Gawali hails PM Modi for the bill.
“Modi unlocked luck for women, this could have been initiated by PM modi only, others don’t have courage.”
BRS MP Nama Nageswara Rao says Telangana has given reservation to women in local bodies in the state. Demands immediate implementation of the legislation.
This should not become a poll tactic of BJP, says BSP MP Geeta Azad. demands sub-quota and supports the bill.
It will be the most transformative revolution in our times for gender justice, says President Droupadi Murmu on women’s reservation bill.
JDU supports the bill because we believe in women’s empowerment, says Rajiv Ranjan Singh. “But the bill brought by the Centre is a panic reaction to the formation of I.N.D.I.A. and not intended for women’s empowerment
“If it was their intention they would have started the caste census in 2021.”
BJP MP Kiren Rijiju dismisses TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh’s claim of ISRO scientists not getting salary on time. “They have clearly said they are getting salaries and pensions regularly,” says Rijiju as he requests the statement to be expunged from record.
TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh blames BJP of not taking action against Brij Bhushan Singh as she tears into the Centre. “The perpetrator still sitting here today,” she says in her highly-charged speech. Recounts incidents of Hathras gangrape, Asifa case and claims women researchers in IITs are not getting stipend.
TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh says Bengal Assembly has more women than any other state.
“This is not a bill but an act to remove discrimination,” says Kanimozhi.
“If a man gets the quality of women, he becomes god but when a woman becomes strong and brave she becomes devil.”
“Jayalalitha, Mayawati, Sonia Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Sushma Swaraj — one of the names you always forget — strong women leaders.”
“Stop worshipping us, we want to be treated as equals.”
DMK’s Kanimozhi says BJP has taken this opportunity for politics as the saffron party MPs created uproar before she began speaking blaming the party of heckling.
“Bill was brought shrouded in secrecy, opposition parties were not informed before session.”
I thought Sonia Gandhi would speak rising above political lines but she did not mention Geeta Mukherjee and Sushma Swaraj who worked extensively for women’s reservation, says Nishikant Dubey.
“The bill you brought was wrong and those who protested against it were Geeta Mukherjee and Sushma Swaraj.”
“This is BJP and PM Modi’s bill.”
Nishikant Dubey blames Congress of using the women’s reservation bill as a lollypop.
Sonia Gandhi demands caste census and reservation for OBC in the women’s reservation bill on the basis of the survey.
On Women’s Reservation Bill, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi says, “It was Rajiv ji’s (Gandhi’s) dream (Bill).”
On being asked whether the Congress will be part of the debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says, “Yes, Sonia Gandhi will take part in it. Sonia Gandhi will start (discussion) from our party, it has been decided as of yet.”
On Women’s Reservation Bill, MoS Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal says, “… Discussion will be done through the day. It will begin at 11 and it has been scheduled to continue till 6 pm…This has nothing to do with politics…”
On Women’s Reservation Bill, Congress president and LoP in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge says, “In 2010, we had passed the Bill in Rajya Sabha. But it failed to be passed by the Lok Sabha. That is why, this is not a new Bill. Had they taken that Bill forward, it would have been done quickly by this day…I feel that they are publicising this in view of elections but actually unless the delimitation or census takes place…you can feel how long it is going to take.”
“They could have continued with the earlier one but their intentions are something else…But we will insist that women’s reservation has to be brought and we will fully cooperate. But the loopholes and drawbacks should be rectified,” he adds.
On Women’s Reservation Bill, Congress president and LoP in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge says, “In 2010, we had passed the Bill in Rajya Sabha. But it failed to be passed by the Lok Sabha. That is why, this is not a new Bill. Had they taken that Bill forward, it would have been done quickly by this day…I feel that they are publicising this in view of elections but actually unless the delimitation or census takes place…you can feel how long it is going to take.”
“They could have continued with the earlier one but their intentions are something else…But we will insist that women’s reservation has to be brought and we will fully cooperate. But the loopholes and drawbacks should be rectified,” he adds.
Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting of INDIA alliance at 10 am today. In that meeting, we will have a detailed discussion over Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023, says Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh.
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says, “The new copies of the Constitution that were given to us today (19th September), the one we held in our hands and entered (the new Parliament building), its Preamble doesn’t have the words ‘socialist secular’.”
“We know that the words were added after an amendment in 1976 but if someone gives us the Constitution today and it doesn’t have those words, it is a matter of concern…Their intention is suspicious. It has been done cleverly. It is a matter of concern for me. I tried to raise this issue but I did not get an opportunity to raise this issue,” he adds.
Congress MP KC Venugopal hits back at Union minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani saying, “BJP and Prime Minister have given a portfolio for her to abuse Congress party and Gandhis. She is doing that duty to appease her master.”
His remark came after Irani said on Tuesday that Gandhi family is “only interested in empowering the women in their family.”
“They are not interested in empowering the women in poor or Dalit women. It is unfortunate that Sonia Gandhi was absent today. Her son also left when the discussion on the bill was underway. it is even more unfortunate that when the Speaker asked who supported the bill, BJP and NDA supported it but the Congress party did not,” she said.
Background
Parliament Special Session HIGHLIGHTS: Hello and welcome to Parliament Special Session live blog. Please follow this space for all the latest updates on the ongoing special session of the Parliament. On Tuesday, the MPs bid adieu to the old Parliament and walked to the new building led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the first half of the day, Modi addressed the MPs of both the Houses in the Central Hall of the old Parliament building where he looked back at the key moments and important legislations that were passed. The Women’s Reservation Bill was tabled on the second day of the session and the bill will be debated today.
He commemorated that the national flag and national anthem were adopted in the old Parliament building and mentioned law against triple talaq, decriminalising of Article 377, and abrogation of Article 370 which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir as being passed in the same building.
He also said that the dignity of the old Parliament building should not be dimnished and so proposed it to be known as ‘Samvidhan Sadan’.
The Parliamentarians then walked to the new building in the second half where the first session of Lok Sabha took place. Modi called the said that the new Parliament was the “dawn of the amritkaal” of India’s Independence and was a testament to India’s new future.
“I extend my heartiest welcome to all of you in this new Parliament building. This occasion is unprecedented in several ways. This is the dawn of Azadi ka Amrit Kaal,” he said.
He then appealed to all parties to forget past animosity as they started proceedings in the new building. “Parliament is the supreme place to serve the nation. Whatever we do in this new Parliament building, it should be an inspiration to every citizen of the country. When we are starting a new chapter, we should forget all past bitterness,” PM Modi said.
The Women’s Reservation Bill became the first bill to be introduced in the new Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
