NEW DELHI, Apr 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed to all Lok Sabha members to vote in favour of the women’s reservation bill and said the time has come to ensure that half of the nation’s population receives its rightful due in decision-making.
Shortly before the voting on the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, Modi urged all members not to do anything that may hurt the sentiments of women across India.
Members of the Lower House will also vote on the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill for the delimitation of constituencies and increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha to 816 to implement the proposed amended women’s quota law.
“Crores of women are watching us… our intent and our decisions. I once again request that everyone support the amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam,” Modi said in his appeal posted on X.
He said the proposed legislation to ensure reservation for women in legislative bodies is a significant opportunity to do justice to them.
“I would like to appeal to all members of Parliament… Please reflect upon your conscience, remembering the women in your own families. Please do not deprive our ‘nari shakti’ of new opportunities,” he said.
The PM said Parliament is discussing the historic legislation that paves the way for reservation for women in legislative bodies.
He said the discussions, which began on Thursday, went on till around 1 am this morning and resumed after the House reconvened at 11 am on Friday. Modi said the government has addressed all apprehensions and misconceptions relating to the legislation with facts and logic. All concerns and information gaps have been addressed.
“For nearly four decades, this issue of women’s reservation in legislative bodies has been inordinately delayed. Now is the time to ensure that half of the nation’s population receives its rightful due in decision-making. Even after so many decades of independence, it is not right that women in India have such limited representation in this area,” he said.
In a short while from now, voting will take place in the Lok Sabha and “I urge and appeal to all political parties to reflect carefully and take a sensitive decision by voting in favour of women’s reservation”, the prime minister said.
“On behalf of our nari shakti, I also request all members not to do anything that may hurt the sentiments of women across India,” Modi said. He said if this amendment is passed unanimously, it will further empower women and strengthen the country’s democracy.
“Let us come together today to create history. Let us ensure that the women of India, who are half of the nation’s population, receive their rightful due,” the PM said. (Agenciese)
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