PM Modi Hits Out At Opposition, Says Women Will Remember ‘Celebrations’ After Bill Defeat

Framing the defeat of the Women's Reservation Bill as a betrayal of women's aspirations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on opposition parties, accusing them of celebrating a move that blocked women from getting their due place in Parliament.

He said the proposed amendment was never intended to take away anyone's rights, but was designed to ensure fair opportunities for women and strengthen their participation in the democratic process. Taking aim at opposition parties, Modi suggested their conduct after the bill's defeat revealed a lack of seriousness towards women's empowerment and exposed what he described as their disregard for the long-pending demand for greater political representation.

The Prime Minister also warned that women across the country would not forget the developments in Parliament. He said when opposition leaders return to their constituencies, women would remember how they "rejoiced" after preventing the legislation from going through. The remarks signal that the BJP is likely to turn the failed bill into a larger political issue in the coming months, especially as it seeks to sharpen its appeal around women-centric messaging.

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which sought to operationalise 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures before the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on Friday night. The bill received 298 votes in favour and 230 against, falling short of the 352 votes needed out of 528 members who voted. The proposal also included increasing Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816 and expanding seats in state and Union Territory assemblies as part of the implementation framework.