All 214 MPs present in House vote in favour
Golden moment in India’s Parliamentary journey: PM
NEW DELHI, Sept 21: Parliament approved a bill for reserving one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for women with the Rajya Sabha unanimously clearing it today. All 214 MPs present in the House voted in favour of it.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the MPs for supporting the legislation. Just before the House took up voting on the bill, Modi said a constructive approach of all political parties to this bill will reinvigorate the Nari Shakti.
Once more women assume leadership roles and join the nation-building process, he said, adding they will become a guarantee of the country’s bright future.
The Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill — Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam — was moved in Rajya Sabha by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. It was the first bill taken up by Parliament after its proceedings during a special session moved to the new building.
According to the bill, it will come into effect after the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies which will be carried out after the completion of the next population census.
At present, women make up for nearly half of India’s 95 crore registered voters but account for only 15 per cent of lawmakers in Parliament and 10 per cent in the State Assemblies.
Meanwhile, a day after the Lok Sabha passed the Women’s Reservation Bill with near unanimity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today described its passage as a “Golden Moment” in India’s Parliamentary history and credited the leaders of all political parties and members of the House for the achievement.
Soon after the Lok Sabha assembled for the day, Modi rose to make a brief statement, saying as the leader of the House, he wholeheartedly thanks the members for their contribution in the “sacred” task.
He said Wednesday’s decision and the upcoming culmination in the Rajya Sabha will change the mood of “matrushakti” and the confidence that it will create will emerge as an unimaginable force for taking the country to new heights.
“To accomplish this sacred task, I, as the leader of the House, have stood to acknowledge and express gratitude from the core of my heart for your contribution, support and meaningful debate,” the Prime Minister told the Lok Sabha.
He said the credit for the passage of the key bill goes to every member of the House and the leaders of all political parties both inside and outside the House.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die today, a day ahead of schedule, after passing the landmark women’s reservation bill.
The Rajya Sabha also passed a resolution on ‘India’s glorious space journey marked by successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3’.
During the brief session, the Upper House also discussed the ‘Parliamentary journey of 75 years from Samvidhan Sabha – achievements, experiences, memories and learnings’.
The Lok Sabha proceedings were also adjourned sine die today, a day before the scheduled close of the special session.
The Lok Sabha also adopted a resolution on the success of the Moon mission.
As the House was adjourned sine die by Speaker Om Birla, several women MPs greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI)
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