Women’s reservation bill is not dead as PM Modi vows to push for it when opportunity arises

A day after the Constitution Amendment Bill that provided for early implementation of the women’s reservation and delimitation was defeated by the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday vowed to push for its passage when another opportunity arises.

Addressing the nation on the issue, Modi apologised to all the mothers and sisters of the country for not being able to pass the bill. “Every citizen of this country is witnessing how women’s progress has stalled… Despite our best efforts, we haven’t succeeded. Amendments could not be made in the Nari Shakti Adhiniyam. And I apologise to all the mothers and sisters of the nation for this.”

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Acknowledging the disappointment and grief of women over the Bill’s defeat, Modi asserted that his government remains committed to fulfilling the dreams of half the population.

The Prime Minister said that his government will push for the Bill’s passage as more opportunities will come.

“I know that today the mothers, sisters, daughters of my country… all of you are grieving. I too am grieving in your grief. But our effort will not stop, our effort will not falter, our inner strength is invincible. More opportunities will come our way ahead as well. We must fulfill this resolve for the dreams of half the population, for the future of the country,” he said.

The Prime Minister also hit out at the Opposition Congress and its regional allies for blocking the amendment that sought early implementation of the women’s reservation due to their “selfish politics”.

“Nation’s welfare is our priority, but when political benefit becomes the priority for some people, even bigger than the nation’s welfare, the women of the country have to bear the burden for this. The same happened this time as well,” he said.

He went on to accuse them of committing the “bhrun hatya” (foeticide) of the bill.

“The Congress and its allies have murdered the fetus of this honest effort right in front of the entire country in the House. Parties like Congress, DMK, TMC, and SP are the culprits of this feticide,” he added.

The One Hundred and Sixth Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023, also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

However, the latest proposal tied its implementation to delimitation, a move that Opposition parties have opposed.

The BJP-led NDA government was unable to secure the required two-thirds majority (352 votes) in the Lok Sabha. In the voting that followed a day-long debate, 298 members supported the Bill while 230 opposed it, leading to its defeat.