Parliament Adjourns After Historic Passage of 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam'

The historic Women's Reservation Bill was successfully passed in Parliament, leading to the adjournment of both Houses on Thursday. The Special Session of Parliament, initially scheduled to continue, concluded a day earlier than planned. The legislation, which mandates a 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and other legislative bodies, was unanimously approved by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, with 214 members voting in favor and none opposing it, following its overwhelming passage in the Lok Sabha.

The Lok Sabha, on Wednesday, engaged in extensive discussions on the Bill before ultimately passing it, with an impressive 454 members voting in favor and only 2 against. On Thursday, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal briefly responded to the day-long debate on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha, affirming that it would be implemented following the appropriate procedures.

Prior to the vote, Prime Minister Modi implored Rajya Sabha members to pass the Bill unanimously, emphasizing that it would instill newfound belief and confidence among the populace. He commended all members and political parties for their significant roles in empowering women and promoting 'Nari Shakti,' urging them to send a strong message to the nation.

PM Modi noted that the Women's Reservation Bill had been deliberated in both Houses for the past two days, with over 132 members participating in meaningful discussions that would contribute to the nation's progress. Opposition-backed amendments were rejected, and individual clauses of the Bill were subjected to voting. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar announced the Bill's passage, hailing it as a historic achievement.

Amidst these developments, it was pointed out as a coincidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday coincided with this significant event, which marked the first Bill passed by Parliament in its new building, following the government's announcement of its intent to do so.

The Bill garnered majority support in both Houses, with a requirement of two-thirds of the members present and voting. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, participating in the Rajya Sabha debate, urged the government to specify a definite implementation date, expressing skepticism about their commitment. He also advocated for OBC reservation within the Bill.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the BJP's unwavering commitment to the Bill, crediting the PV Narasimha Rao government for introducing 33 percent reservation in panchayat raj, which has since been increased to 50 percent in many states. She assured that the government did not politicize women-related issues and was determined to implement the Bill. She addressed questions from opposition members regarding the implementation timeline.

Sitharaman explained that after the Bill's enactment and operation, a fresh delimitation exercise would be conducted during the first census, based on the relevant figures. In response to Kharge's query about implementation, Meghwal assured that there should be no doubts.

The new chamber of the Rajya Sabha saw electronic voting for the first time as members cast their votes. The Women's Reservation Bill had previously passed the Rajya Sabha in 2010 during the Congress-led UPA government but could not progress in the Lok Sabha. The new Women's Reservation Bill, however, successfully passed during the Special Session of Parliament that commenced on Monday.