In a landmark address marking the second day of Parliament’s special session and the inaugural session in the newly constructed parliamentary building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi passionately championed the cause of the women’s reservation bill. Affirming that he sees himself as “chosen by divine will for this sacred mission,” the Prime Minister stressed the imperative of placing women at the forefront of development efforts.
In a veiled swipe at past administrations, particularly the Congress-led governments, which were unable to pass the women’s reservation bill, Prime Minister Modi lauded the historic significance of the bill’s recent clearance by the Union Cabinet and its introduction in Parliament. He stated, “Parliament has grappled with this issue in the past, with prolonged deliberations on women’s reservation. Today, I stand with pride to declare that history has been rewritten.”
Prime Minister Modi’s reference to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure, during which attempts were made to pass the bill, carried added weight. “The bill was presented several times during Atalji’s tenure. Today, it is with humility that I acknowledge that providence has chosen me for this sacred task,” the Prime Minister declared, addressing concerns that the bill’s introduction might be politically motivated in the run-up to the upcoming general elections.
Prime Minister Modi, who previously characterized the bill’s passage as an “agni pareeksha” or trial by fire for Members of Parliament, reemphasized the significance of this milestone. The bill seeks to establish a 33 percent reservation for women in both Parliament and state legislatures.
The bill’s debate is scheduled for Wednesday in the Lok Sabha and Thursday in the Rajya Sabha. Notably, the bill has previously faced obstacles related to reserving a quota for women within the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities, which hindered its passage despite clearance in the Rajya Sabha in 2010.
Given the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s substantial majority in the Lok Sabha and support from coalition partners in the Rajya Sabha, the bill is on the cusp of becoming law. However, it may not be enforced until 2029 due to its reliance on data from a yet-to-be-conducted census and a subsequent constituency redrawing exercise scheduled for 2027, after the next census.
In a conciliatory gesture, Prime Minister Modi also chose this auspicious occasion, coinciding with the Jain festival of Samvatsari, to extend apologies “to anyone we may have intentionally or unintentionally hurt.” This act of contrition, he noted, aligns with the Jain tradition of “micchami dukkadam,” allowing individuals to seek forgiveness for any harm they have caused, intentionally or otherwise.
This historic session in the new Parliament building marks the dawn of a new era, not only in terms of legislative action but also in fostering an atmosphere of reconciliation and progress.
