Heaping praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the historic passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament on September 21, Union Minister Smriti Irani said the legislative feat only goes to show that “Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai” (Nothing is impossible when PM Modi is there) is not a mere saying.
The Bill, which cleared its final legislative hurdle at the Rajya Sabha on September 21, guarantees 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha as well as the State legislative assemblies.
Speaking to ANI, on September 21, after the long-desired piece of legislation finally saw the light of day, Smriti Irani, the Union Women and Child Development Minister, said, “We have often come across the saying Modi hai toh mumkin hai . Today, the PM has again proved that these aren’t hollow words.”
A day after it was cleared in the Lok Sabha, the Upper House on September 21 passed the Women’s Reservation Bill, aptly titled Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, unanimously with 214 members voting in support and none against.
Following the passage of the bill, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die. Meanwhile, women MPs took turns to thank PM Modi for the passage of the draft legislation.
Women members from both Houses of Parliament were all smiles as they presented a bouquet to PM Modi on the historic passage of the Bill in Parliament.
Later, both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die. Earlier, on September 20, the Bill aced the legislative test in the Lok Sabha as it was passed by a brute majority of 454 votes in favour and just 2 against.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal gave a brief reply to the day-long debate on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the upper House of Parliament and said it will be implemented after following due process.
Ahead of the voting, PM Modi urged the Rajya Sabha members to pass the Bill unanimously.
He said the Bill will lead to a new confidence in the people of the country. “All members and political parties have played a significant role in empowering women and enhancing ‘Nari Shakti’. Let us give the country a strong message,” he said.
The Rajya Sabha had earlier passed the Women’s Reservation Bill in 2010 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.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Women’s Reservation Bill cleared his last legislative hurdle in the Rajya Sabha on September 21, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said he has done in 9 years what others couldn’t do in three decades.
Stepping out of the new Parliament building after the quota Bill for women was declared to have passed the legislative test with flying colours, Anurag Thakur thanked parties across the political aisle for extending their support for this historic piece of legislation.
“I want to thank PM Modi firstly and all political parties that voted for this Bill. PM Modi has accomplished what no other leader or Government could in the last 30 years,” Anurag Thakur told ANI.
“We are in the Amrit Kaal. The country is coursing through its golden phase in which women can now contribute more significantly to nation-building. They can also engage more deeply in policy-making and the welfare of the poor. They will now have a bigger and more prominent role to play in taking the country to new heights. The 33-per cent reservation that this Bill provides will ensure their active participation in our legislative processes. Modi-ji has done what nobody could in 30 years. It is not for no reason that people say ‘Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai’ (Nothing is impossible when PM Modi is there),” Anurag Thakur said.
BJP National President JP Nadda on September 21 said there could not have been a better start to the new Parliament building. He added that with the historic passage of this draft legislation, the country had taken a major step towards realising the long-pending rights of women.
The BJP National President said the Bill, titled ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, not only represents a significant uptick in the representation of women in legislative bodies, including the Parliament, but will also inspire them to be involved more deeply in the country’s legislative processes and decisions. He said it would also drive women to be engaged more proactively in the shaping of an “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India).
There could not have been a better start for the new Parliament building!
Today, as a nation, we have ushered ourselves into a new era of women empowerment. With the passage of 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' by both houses of Parliament, we have moved towards providing a…— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 21, 2023
Taking to his official handle on social media platform X, JP Nadda posted, “There could not have been a better start for the new Parliament building! Today, as a nation, we have ushered ourselves into a new era of women empowerment. With the passage of ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ by both houses of Parliament, we have moved towards providing a long-pending right to our women. Our Nari Shakti has already proven its mettle across all walks of life, and it is now imperative that they also participate overwhelmingly in law-making processes and contribute to our nation’s growth in Amrit Kaal. This bill will not merely increase the representation of women in legislature but will inspire all of our women to play an instrumental role in shaping an Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
Women’s quota Bill first piece of legislation to be passed by new Parliament
The Women’s reservation Bill or the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, guaranteeing quota for women in legislative bodies, was the first Bill to be taken up for discussion and debate by the new Parliament before its eventual passage on September 21.
The new Parliament building was inaugurated by PM Modi in May this year.
Following the passage of the bill, which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha as well as the State legislative assemblies, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die.
The Parliamentarians entered the new Parliament building on September 19, from the old one that has been rechristened as Samvidhan Sadan.
(with inputs from ANI)
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