Rajya Sabha clears women’s reservation bill unanimously Parliament seal

According to PM Modi, the people will feel more confident as a result of the MPs' unity; Opposition criticises the bill's implementation and the delay in its introduction.

The women's reservation bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday with all members voting in favour. According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the public would feel more confident as a result of the unanimous vote.

Constitution 128th Amendment Bill, or the Nari Shakt

All 214 members present in the Upper House voted in support of passing the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, also known as the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, and its six sections. "A historic achievement," said Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar upon the Bill's passing. The members banged on the desks in appreciation at the announcement of the Bill's passing.

The opposition members' modifications to the clause that the bill would only take effect following a census and delimitation exercise were lost in a voice vote since no one called for a "division" on the amendments.

72 speakers participated in the debate 

The discussion, punctuated by couplets and poetry, included a total of 72 speakers. A succession of female moderators took turns serving as the Chair during the discussion.

The opposition focused on two main points: the delay in introducing the bill and the inclusion of OBC women in the 33% reservation without their own distinct reservation. These claims were refuted by the Treasury benches with actions made by the Modi administration to support women.

Not an act of generosity

The Opposition members criticised the BJP for portraying the Bill as an example of the Prime Minister's kindness towards women in opposition to the governing party speakers who credited PM Modi alone for presenting the law. Additionally, they attacked the bill's name, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. "You spoke to the Bill as if it were a heavenly favour. 

It is not a heavenly favour; rather, it is a fundamental right, according to Congressman Ranjeet Ranjan, who started the discussion for the opposition. She further criticised the government, claiming that although it remained silent while women wrestlers were sitting in protest at Jantar Mantar and women were being paraded in Manipur nude, it now displays an uncommon commitment to women.

She said that the administration was exposed because they did not think it appropriate to invite President Droupadi Murmu to the opening ceremony of the new Parliament, a claim made by other speakers from the Opposition.

Members of the BJP retaliated by including the Center's initiatives for women, like as the Ujjwala programme, in their list. The gender ratio has improved, according to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and the Centre has allowed women to enrol in Army schools.

Why the delay? Government pushing its implementation to 2029,”

The main concerns voiced by the Opposition speakers were "why did the government take nine and a half years to bring this legislation and why is the government pushing its implementation to 2029." When the Centre is able to make quick judgements like demonetisation, according to the leader of the opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, the nine and a half year wait in passing a Bill that has the backing of all parties is untenable. 

In response, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stated, "This is the right time," and Ms. Sitharaman noted the Bill was carefully drafted. Mahesh Jethmalani, a BJP member and attorney, asserted that the Bill will withstand the Supreme Court's legal review.

INDIA Bonhomie

Dola Sen, a member of the Trinamool Congress, praised the pro-women policies of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) governments in Punjab and Delhi as well as the Congress administration in Karnataka during her multilingual address in which she alternated between Hindi, English, and Bangla. Sandeep Pathak, an AAP lawmaker, also made a point of praising the efforts made by previous Congress administrations to enact the legislation. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and other non-INDIA bloc parties supported the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) MPs' demand that the Centre revise the Bill to include a provision for OBC women MPs' reservation within the 33% reserve.