PM Modi Calls Akhilesh Yadav ‘Good Friend’ During Debate on Women’s Quota - Watch

The Lok Sabha witnessed a rare moment of levity on Thursday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi sparked laughter across the aisles, describing Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav as a " good friend" who occasionally offers support.

The light-hearted exchange occurred during a debate on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, the landmark bill seeking to reserve one-third of seats for women in the Lower House.

"Akhilesh ji is my friend, so at times he does offer support," the Prime Minister remarked, prompting smiles and laughter from the benches, including from Yadav and his wife, MP Dimple Yadav.

The Prime Minister used the moment to reflect on his own origins, stating that the "supremacy of the Constitution" allowed a person from a "very humble and backward background" to lead the nation. He urged all parties to rise above partisan politics to pass the bill, warning that the "women of the country have not forgiven" those who obstructed the quota in the past.

While the mood was briefly jovial, the SP President had earlier in the day criticised the government's approach towards clearing the bill. Akhilesh Yadav questioned the "intent and haste" of rushing the constitutional amendment and delimitation bills through the special three-day session, which runs until 18 April.

Yadav accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to "hijack" a national cause for electoral gain. His primary contention remains the exclusion of a "quota within a quota" for women from marginalised communities.

The Samajwadi Party's Key Demands:

Caste Census First: A demand that a caste-based census be conducted before the reservation is implemented to ensure equitable distribution.

Backward Representation: Concerns that the current bill may deprive women from "extremely backward" sections of the benefits of reservation.

Sincerity Check: Yadav pointed to the BJP's representation records across states, questioning their commitment to the socialist icons' vision of upliftment.

Responding to the criticism, Prime Minister Modi framed the bill as a vital step toward a Viksit Bharat (Developed India). He argued that true development is not merely infrastructure or economic figures, but a system where 50% of the population is integral to policy-making.

"We have already delayed it," the Prime Minister admitted, referencing the 30-year struggle to bring the bill to maturity. "It is the demand of the time that women become part of policy-making."

To address concerns regarding the potential displacement of current representatives, the government has proposed a significant expansion of the Lok Sabha. This move aims to ensure that the introduction of the one-third female quota does not diminish the overall representation of other groups during the delimitation process.